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BATTLE 



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PROPOSED .,v\ 



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Od¥oS'I^t{ 7", i88o. 



C O N T E N T S . 



I. 

OrGAKIZATIOK of TlIK KlX(^'S MOINTAIN CENTENNIAL 

Association. 

II. 

COItriESPONDENCE IJETWEEN THE GOVERNOUS OF TEN- 
NESSEE, XoKTii Carolina, Soitth Carolina and Virginia. 

Act of the General Assemuly of Soi'tii Cai!Olina, 
Making Appropriation io Aid in the Celeiuiation. 

Concurrent KF:soLr'riox of Same, Invokixc; the Aid 

OF f 'ONGRESS. 

Resolution of the General Assembly of North Car- 
olina, Making Appropriation to Aid in the Celerration. 
Joint Resoli^tion by the Virginia Legislature on 

THE SrBJE( T OF THE RaTTLE OF KiNG'S MOFXTAIN. 

III. 

Historical Sketch of the Battle of King's Moitn- 
TAiN ; Prepared by Rev. Robf^rt Lathan. 

l\ . 

Celebration of Washingtdn's Birthday r.v ihe As- 
sociation. 

Oration of Col. Thomas Hardeman, of Georgia. 

Presentation of the United States Flag, by the 
Charlotte axd Atlaxta Railway Company, 



Wis. l-iisi Soa, 



PRINTED AT THE 

OFFICE OF THF I-:NO^IRl^R, 

YORKVILLE. S. C. 



I 



OF THE 

King s Mountain Centennial Association. 



At a meeting of the citizens of King's Mountuin and vicinity, 
on Saturday, May Sith, 1879, to take initiatory steps towards the 
celebration of the centennial of the battle of King's Mountain, 
Dr. J. W. Tracy was called to tlie chair ; I. W. Garrett and W. 
A. Mainiey were appointed secretaries. Tlie chairman having 
exi)lained tlie object of the meeting, Capt. W. T. R. Bell moved the 
appointment of a committee of five to draft resolutions expressive 
of the sense of the meeting. Capt. W. T. R. Bell, Dr. B. F. 
Dixon, P. S. Baker, W. A. Mauney and Dr. T. J. Walker were 
appointed. Tlie committee presented the following resolutions, 
wliich were adopted : 

Resolved^ That this meeting islieartily in favoi- of celebrating 
tlie centennial of the battle of King's Mountain. 

EesoJved '2nd^ That we will cooperate in all measures tending 
to secure tliat object. 

Besolred 3rd, That as an initiative step it is recommended 
that a public meeting be held in the town of King's Mountain, to 
which our fellow citizens of the surrounding counties, both in 
Xorth and South Carolina, be invited ; that at said meeting it is 
recommended that a joint committee, composed ecpudly of Xorth 
and South Carolinians, be appointed to take in hand all corres- 
pondence and [)relimiuary arrangements, and who shall constitute 
a standing connnittee for the puri)ose mentioned. 

Resolved -ith, That Friday, the 25th day of July, 1879, is 
hereby appointed for said meeting, and we hereby call upon the 
counties of Cleveland, Gaston, liutherford, Lincoln, Henderson, 
Polk and Mecklenburg, especially, in North Carolina, and York, 
Spartanl)urg, Lancaster and Unioji in South Carolina, to hold 
meetings, and send delegates to said meeting on the •J.'ith of July. 

Resolved oth^ That the secretaries of this meeting be instruct- 
ed to recpiest Senators Z. B. YanceandM. C. Butler to be present 
and address the meeting; also that similar invitations be extended 
to other prominent gentlemen in North and South Carolina. 

Uesolved (UA, That we cordially extend an invitation to all 



4 KlN<i"S MOfNI'AIN ( KX'IKNM A I, ASSOl I \ TION. 

citizens dl' whatever county or State, wlio are riieiidly to tiie 

ol)ject in view, to meet witli us and part iciitate in tlie iirocccdinsi's 

ot tliat nieetiuu. 

I{(s(ilrr<l ~tli. Tiiat tile papers in Slidliy. ianeoluton. Cliar- 

lotte, J^)el< Hill, Vorkville, Si>aitanl)ur,u. Coluniltia and Kaleiyii, 

he re(inested to ('ojiv these resolutions. 

W. T. IJ. Ukli.. 
l)i{. 1}. F. Dixon. 
W. A. Mauney, 
P. S. Baker, 
Dh. T. .1. Walker, 

Committee. 

P. S. P.aker. W. A. Mauney, Dr. Dixon. Dr. Walker, F. S. 
M(;(;innis. K. S. SnsM\ ('apt. Bell and I. W. Garrett, were 
appointed a local committee of arrangements t'oi- the meeting on 
July •J.lth. 

The meeting adjourned. I. W. Garrett, 

W. A. Mauney, 

Secretaries. 

In i-esponse to this invitation, delegates from North Carolina, 
South Carolina and Georgia, assembled at King's :Mountain, N. 
(".. on the -ioth of July, l^T'.i, and organized the King's Mountain 
Centennial Association by the adoption of the following itreamhle 
and resolutions, viz. : 

Whereas, It has been the custom of the nations of the earth 
from time immemorial to commemorate, by their celebrations, the 
cardinal and illustrious events of their history, and 

Whereas, we would celebrate the ever memorable period 
when, under a common tlag and with a common hope and a 
connnon destiny, our forefathers gained one of the glorious 
victories that gave us liberty ; therefore, 

lii'solnd. That on the 7th of October, 18^(1. there be a 
centennial celebration of the battle of King's Mountain, held on 
1 he liattle-ground. 

RfsdhCd, That we, the delegates from the States of Georgia, 
North Carolina and South Carolina assembled, do hereby 
cordially invite all the sister States of the Union to unite and 
co-operate with us in this national celebration. 

Eesolved, That for the effectual celebration of said event, the 
following committees be appointed : 

First. The King's Mountain Centennial Executive Committee, 
three of whom shall l>e designated l)y tliis meeting, as i^resident, 
secretary and treasurer. Five of said t-onnnittee sliall constitute 
a (luoruni. Said committee shall meet at as early a day as 
jtracticable and give specitic instinct ions to the committees 
liert'inafter named. 

S(i-inii1. A committee on invitations and correspondence. 

'lliird. A committee on ways and means. 



king's >I()I:NTA1N centennial ASSOC iation. 

Fourth. A committee on arrangements, consisting- of the 
following snb-divisions : 

(a.) A committee to collect the historic relics of King's 
Mountain battle-ground, and to secure in pami)hlet form a sketch 
of the battle and of the prominent actors therein. 

(h.) A committee to purcluise a suitable monument. 

{(•.) A committee on prei)aration of the grounds. 

((7.) A committee on application for troops to illustrate tlie 
plan of the battle. 

{e.) A committee on police. 

(/. ) A committee on transportation. 

These committees, as c(mstituted by election at tliis meeting 
and by appointments at subsequent meetings, stand conii)osed at 
present, as follows : 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
Col. Asbury Coward, Prcmlent, Yorkville, S. ('. ; Capt. W. 
T. R. Bell, SerrrUiry, King's Mountain, N. C. ; ("apt. J. M. Ivy, 
Treasurer, Ilock Hill, S. C. ; (Governor A. H. Colquitt, (Jeorgia; 
Governor T. J. Jarvis, North Carolina ; Governor W. 1). Simi)son, 
South Carolina ; Governor A. S. Marks, Tennessee ; W. Wa(hly 
Thomson, Col. C. Petty, J. C. Chambers, Simpson Bobo, Gen, 
Johnstone Jones, C. R. Jones, Col. E. P. Howell, R. Y. McAden. 

COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS AND CORRES- 
PONDENCE. 

Hon. W. II. Wallace, Chairman., Union C. H., S. C. ; Col. B. 
McDowell, Dr. J. W. Tracy, I. W. (Jarrett, Dr. J. S. Lawtou. 

COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. 

Hon. 1. D. Witherspoon, Chairman., Yorkville, S. C. 

For South Carolina — J. S. Bratton, E. G. Byers, J. S. R. 
Thomson, Col. Joseph Walker, Col. I. G. McKissick, Hon. T. B. 
Jeter, Hon. W. A. Walker, Giles J. Patterson, Maj. Thos. W. 
Woodward, George H. McMaster, Hon. J. D. Wylie, C4eij. J. B. 
Erwin, Gen. John S. Preston, Rev. William Martin, Hon. W. A. 
Courtenay, Gen. Rudolph Seigliug, Rev. Ellison Capers, W. C. 
Mauldin, Col. George D. Johnstone, Col. Y". J. Pope, Hon. R. P. 
Todd, Col. B. W. Ball, Hon. Samuel McGowan, Hon. J. H. 
Maxwell, Col. James Cothran, T. P. Mitchell, A. E. Ruff, Dr. S. 
W. Bookhart, Allen Bettis. 

For North Carolina — Col. Wm. Johnston, J. R. Falls, 
P. S. Baker, H. J. Allison, Joseph Cobb, Col. W. G. Morris, H. 
B. Huffstetler, Wm. Harroldson, G. W. Chalk, Jasper Stowe, A. 
W. Davenport, J. F. Deeper, F. W. Deeper, G. K. Tate, Col. T. 
W. Taylor, Dr. George S. Young, Dr. Jno. D. McLean, E. Childs, 



6 kixg's mountain centennial association. 

H. T. Saiirtifer, L. C. Lemmons, Wm. McDowell, Noah AValker, 
Win. II. Greene, P. B. Harmon, W. J. T. :SIiller, W. B. Stronde, 
J. B. Lattimore, IT. F. Schenck, J. Z. Falls, Jr.. AV. 11. Hall. 
Gen. Thos. F. Drayton, Hon. David Jenkins. 

For Georgia — (To be supplied.) 

FoH Tennessee— (To be supplied.) 

For Virginia — (To be supplied.) 
COMMITTEE ON HISTOIUCAL RECORDS AND RELICS. 

Rev. llol)ert Latlian, Chuirman, Yorkville, S. C. ; Col. — 
Moore, Dr. J. G. M. Ramsay, Hon. A. H. Stephens, Hon. B. F. 
Perry, Edward Cantwell, D. G. Stinson, A. Hardin, D. Seahorn, 
Prof. J. H. Carlisle, Rev. C. H. Wiley, John Sevier. 

COMMITTEE ON MONUMENT. 
A. E. Hutchison, Chairman, Rock Hill, S. C. ; Dr. A. 1'. 
Campbell, Capt. F. G. Latham, R. P. Waring, Dr. J. M. Miller. 

COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION OF GROUNDS. 

Dr. J. R. Lot^^an, Chairman, Shelby, N. C. ; Dr. A. F. 
Hambrifrht, A. Y. Falls, J. A. Deal, J. W. M. Harry, Freno 
Dillins, W. L. (roforth, Emanuel Patterson. 

COMMITTEE ON TROOPS. 

Col. J. V. Tliomas, C//f^/r/7(«7i, Charlotte, N. C. ; lion. J. B. 

Gordon, Hon. Wade Ham])ton, Hon. M. W. Ransom, Hon. Z. H. 

Vance, Gen. E. W. Moise, Maj. C. Q. Petty, Col. Jas. H. ition. 

COMMITTEE ON POLICE. 
Frank McGinnas, C/iamxar?, North Carolina ; R. H. (Jarrett, 
J. M. Ilambrislit, Tra Hardin, R. E. Porter. 

COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION. 
Maj. AV. J. Houston, Chairman, Atlanta, Ga. ; W. A. Mauney, 
W. (). AVier. W. Holmes Hardin, Maj. A. B. Andrews, V. Q. 
Jolmson. J. R. Ogden, Col. Henry Fink, A. Pope, E. H. Smith, 
J. R. McMurdo, D. Cardwell, B. W. Wrenn, D. C. Allen. James 
Mason. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



North Carolina, Executive Department, ) 
Raleigh, January 29, 1880. | 
Capt. W. T. R. Bell, Kind's Mountain, N. C. 

My Dear Sir : Since writing you on the 19th instant, I liave 
had a corresp(uidence with Governor Marks, of Tennessee ; 
copies of which I lierein enclose. 

T beg to suggest that at the first meeting of tlie Citizens' 
committee, Avhich now lias in charge the King's Mountain 
celebration, you lay before the committee this correspondence, 
and suggest to them the projtriety of taking such steps as in their 
wisdom may seem best, looking to a participation of Tennessee 
and Virginia in the proposed celebration, and a co-operation witli 
the committee suggested by Goveinor Marks. 

I would further suggest that the Governors of South and 
North Carolina be requested to invite the Governor and people of 
Virginia to participate in the preliminary arrangements, and in 
the final grand celebration. 

With renewed assurances of my readiness to co-operate in 
this patriotic work, I am, very truly yours, 

THOS. J. JARVIS. 



Nashville, Tenn., January 4th, 1880. 
Sir : In compliance with the directiojis of the General 
Assembly of Tennessee, I have the honor to transmit to your 
Excellency, a copy of a joint resolution of that body suggesting 
a centennial celebration of '"King's Mountain." As "King's. 
Mountain" was the key to Yorktown, and Yorktown the key to 
American Independence, the General Assembly of Tennessee 
deemed it appropriate to suggest to her sister States, whose troops 
participated with hers in that interesting event, the propriety of 
its centennial celebration. You will observe that the proposed 
celebration is dependent upon the concurrence and co-oi)eration 
of your Excellency. If approved by your Excellency, it is 
important that your approval be signified as soon as it may be done 
with convenience, in order that the preliminary steps for the 



o < (iiii;Ksi'(»M)i:N( K. 

(•elel»i<itioii may I'e taken witliout delay. I have the lioiior to be. 
very lespectfuliy, your obedient servant. 

ALlJKirr S. MARKS, 
(Governor of Tennessee. 
To Mis Kxeellenev, T. J. jAii\ls, (Governor of North Carolina. 



SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION— No. ;;. 

Whereas the one hundredth anniversary of the liallle of 
Kind's Mountain will occur on the 7th day of October next, in 
which the j?allant soldiers from Tennessee (then a i)ortion of 
North Carolina). Virginia, North and South Carolina particiitated. 
winning victory; and whereas, it is i)ioper that we should 
conuneniorate their gallant deeds, and show to the world that we 
ai»i>reciate and cherish the great blessings of civil and religious 
liberty for which our forefathers so no])ly struggled, therefore, 

l>( it Eesolvrd, by the (reneral Assembly of the State of 
'i'eiinessee, that the Governor is hereby reciuested to connnunicate 
with tiic (Jovernors of North and South Carolina and N'irginia. 
for the i»iii-i)ose of inaugurating a movement to celebrate, on the 
grounds, the anniversary aforesaid. 

Itcsolrcd, That shouhl said celebration meet with the approval 
of the Crovenun-s of the aforesaid States, the Governor of 
Tennessee shall appoint a committee of ten — tlu'ee from eacii 
grand division of the State, and one for the State at large — who 
shall meet similar committees at (/'harh)tte. North Carolina, on 
the -2211(1 of June, 1880, for the i)urpose of making arrangements 
necessary for the celebration of the centennial of ''King's 
Mountain." 

Jiesolved^ That the Historical Society of Tennessee, and the 
Historical Societies of the other States, if such there l)e, be and 
are herebv invited to co-oi)erate in said celebration. 

.Vdoi)ted December -i-l, IST'.I. 

,1. R. Neal, .Speaker of the Senate. 
II. P. Fawlkks, S])eaker IIo. I\eps. 

.Vpproved December 24, 187i». 

Alberts. Makks, (iovernor. 



Executive I )ei'a htment. 
Raleigh, N. C, January 26, 188U. 
To His Excellency. Albert S. Marks. Governor of Tennessee. 

Dkar Sir : Your commmiication of the 21st, enclosing a 
coi)y of certain resolutions, recently adopted by the General 
Assembly of Tennessee, and approved by yourself, in relation 
to the celcl)ration of the coming centennial anniversary of the 
battle of King's ^lountain. has been received. 

It gives me great pleasure, I beg leave to assure your 
excellency, to see the interest manife.sted by yourself and the 
General Assembly of Tennessee in the proposed celebration. One 



OOIJKESPONDEXCK. 



9 



Imndrecl years ago the Territory, whose people now so justly take 
pride in tlie name of Tennesseeans, was fully as much a part of 
North Carolina as that which still bears the name. We were all 
North Carolinians tlien, and it is gratifying to know that though 
no longer one in name, and no longer one in territory, we are still 
one in affection, and one in admiration for the great achievements 
of our common ancestors, and in our determination, on suitable 
occasions, to make that admiration known to the world. 

The success that befell the American arms on King's 
Mountain, a success achieved by Southern troops under Southern 
leaders, upon Southern soil, was the turning point in the war of 
the revolution. But for King's Mountain, tliere would have been 
no Guilford Court House, and without Guilford Court House, 
there could have been no Yorktown. It was the morning of the 
day that was to bring forth assured success, success that meant 
the vindication and establisliment of the right of self-government, 
after a long night of desi)otism, despair and defeat. And that 
our forefathers bore so conspicuous a part in an achievement, so 
conspicuous for the brilliant genius of its conception and the 
grand daring of its execution, no less tlian for its magnificent and 
momentous consequences, we may well be proud, wliether we 
call ourselves Tennesseeans or North Carolinians. 

It gives me pleasure, tiierefore, to inform you that measures 
have already been taken by tlie people of North and South Carolina 
also, looking to a projter observance of the centennial anniversary 
of the battle of King's Mountain on the very field upon whicii 
the battle was fought. (!)n the "ilst of next month a, magnificent 
flag of mammotli size will l)e raised on the highest point of the 
battle field, there to remain, wlien and where various preliminary 
arrangements for the celebration will also be perfected. 

In all our arrangements, howevei', the presence and partici- 
pation of our brethren of Tennessee and of Vii'ginia have been 
affectionately contemplated and anxiously anticipated. 

I beg leave, therefore, to answer your excellency that I take 
great pleasure in signifying to you my ai)proval of the proposed 
celebration, and that I will at once proceed to designate suitable 
gentlemen to meet in Cliarlotte on tlie 22nd of June next, then 
and there to confer with gentlemen of the committee appointed 
by .yourself, and with the gentlemen of similar committees from 
South Carolina and Virginia. And, further, that from time to 
time, as an opportunity may offer, I will do everything in my 
power that may tend to make the centennial commensurate with 
the magnificent achievement it is intended to commemorate. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient 
servant, THOMAS J. JARYIS, 

Governor of North Carolina. 

The State of South Cakolika, 
Executive Chamber, Columbia, S. C, Jan. 29, 1880. 
To His Excellency Albert S. Marks, Governor of Tennessee. 
Sir : Your letter enclosing the resolution of the General 
Assembly of Tennessee, in which a centennial celebration of the 



10 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



battle of King's Mountain, in this State, is suggested, and tlie 
concurrence and co-operation of the Execntive of South Carolina 
is i-equested, has been received. T concnr with you that "King's 
Mountain was the key to Yorktown and Y<ukto\vn the key to 
American Independence;" and, in the sentiment of one of the 
resolutions, I think it is proi)er that we should commemorate the 
gallant deeds of those who were consiticuous on those noble fields 
of the past, and tlins "show to tiie world that we ap])reciate and 
cherish the great blessings of civil and religious lilicrty for which 
our forefatiiers so nobly struggled;" and I will with great 
pleasure co-operate in a movement wliich your (ieueral Assembly 
lias inaugurated to this end. 

I have the honor to be vour obedient servant, 

W. D. SIMPSON, Governor. 



Richmond, Va., February Kt. 1S8(). 
To His Excellency Gov. Alueut S. Marks. ' 

Dear Sir : Yours of the 21st of January last. in<-l()sing a 
resolution of the General Assembly of Tennessee, in i-elation to 
the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary (if King's 
Mountain, came safely. 

I have delayed answering it. hoi)ing that I could, liefore this, 
get a resolution from the General Assembly of \'irginia. now in 
session ; but the committee before wliom I laid the pniiers. by 
reason of the great i)ress of l)usiness, have not as yet acted. T, 
therefore, Avill respond now and send you wliatever action may be 
taken by tlie Legislature in the future. 

I need hardly say that the celebration pi'o])ose(l meets witli 
my cordial symi)atliy and a])proval, ami 1 iioju' will l)e a great 
success. With high regard, yours verv truly, 

FRED. W. M.'H()LIDAY\ 

Governor of Virginia. 



LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS. 



SOUTH CAROLINA'S APPROPRIATION. 

AN ACT TO Make Appropriatioks for the Payment of 
THE Per Diem and Mileage of the Members of the 
General Assembly, and the Salaries of the Subor- 
dinate Officers and Employees thereof, for the 
Extra Session commencing February 10th, 1880, and 
OTHER Officers and Matters therein Named. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the State of South Carolina, now met and sitting in 
General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That 

* * -x- * * * 

Sec. 7. The sum of one thousand dollars be appropriated in 
aid of the centennial celebration of the battle of King's Mountain, 
October 7th, 1880, to be paid the Cliairman of tlie Executive 
Committee of the association in charge of said celebration upon 
the warrant of the Comptroller-General. 

Approved February 20, 1880. 



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION. 

JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 

Whereas efforts are being made to have a national celebration 
of the one hundredth anniversary of the battle of King's 
Mountain on the 7th day of October, 1880 ; 

And whereas, it is deemed a proper occasion for the American 
people to commemorate their appreciation of tlie privileges of 
civil and religious liberty resulting from this memorable struggle; 
therefore, be it 

Resolved^ by the Senate of South Carolina, the House of 
Representatives concurring, that the senators and members of 
the House of Representatives from South Carolina in Congress 
be, and they are hereby, requested to exert their influence to 
l)rocure from Congress, at its present session, an appropriation in 



12 



L EG I SL A r I \' E EN A C T M E NTS. 



aid of the proposed centeniiiiil celebration of tlie l)attle of King's 
Monntain. 

Resolved further, that the Secretary of State, do fnrnish the 
senators and members of the House of Rein-esentatives from 
Soutli Carolina in Congress, with certified copies of tiiis concurrent 
resolution as early as practicable. 



NORTH CAROLINA'S APPROPRIATION. 

RESOLUTION Relating to the Centennial ok the 
Battle of King's Mountain. 

Whereas, The One Hundredth Anniversiuy of tlie Battle 
of King's Mountain will occur on tlie 7th day of October next, 
in Avhicli tlie gallant men of Tennessee (then a pintion of Xorth 
Caiolina,) Virginia, North and South Carolina, p<u-ticii>ated. 
winning victory ; and 

Whekeas, It is proi)er that we, the children, should suitably 
<'ommemorate and show to the world that we ai>i)reciate the 
gallant deeds of our forefathers, and cherish the grcjit lih-ssings 
of civil and religious lil)erty for which they so nobly struggled 
and so heroically won, by erecting a suital)le monument to mark 
the sp(»t wiiere, in tlie arms of victory, many of our itatriot 
forefathers sacrificed their lives in defence of our Coiiimon wealth ; 
therefore, 

Besolved by the House of Itepresentatires^ the Senate ronrurriny. 
That tiie Governor of this State be and he is hereby autliorized 
to expend out of any moneys in the Treasury, not otherwise 
appropriated, a sum not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars, to aid 
in tlie erection of a suitable monument on the l)attle ground of 
King's Mountain, and defray other expenses in commemorating 
that event. 

Ratified the ^Tth day of March, 188U. 



RESOLUTION BY THP: VIRGINIA LKGISLATURt:. 

JOINT RESOLUTION my the Virginia Leijislatiije on 
THE Subject of the Celebration of the Battle 
OF King's Mountain. 

The General Assembly of Tennessee having on the twenty- 
fourth day of Deceinl)er, eighteen luuidred and seventy-nine, 
passed certain resolutions having for their object the celebration 
of the one hundredth anniversary of the battle of King's 
Mountain, which will occur on the seventh day of October next, 
and the Governor of Tennessee having transmitted to the (Governor 
of this Commonwealth a coi)y of said resolutions, and recpiested 
his co-operation with the (Governors of Tennessee. North Carolina 
and South Carolina in inaugurating a movement for such celebra- 
tion, and the same subject iiaving been brought informally to the 
attention of this house ; therefore, 

1. Be it Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate 



LEOISLATIYE ENACTJIENTS. 



13 



ooiieuiTiiig, that tlie (General Assembly of Virginia sympathizes 
witli the sentiment which i^rompted the movement referred to for 
conunemorating the one luindredtli anniversary of the battle of 
King's Momitain, in which Virginians, with their compatriots 
from Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, gained a 
victory which was the turning point in the conflict for freedom ou 
this continent, and the sure prehule to the final act of surrender 
at Yorktown ; and that the Governor of this Commonwealtli be 
recpiested ttt give such co-operation in said movement as may be 
l)roper ; provided that no cliarge on this Commonwealth shall be 
incurred without previous authority of law therefor. 
Approved February 19, 1880. 



BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN.- 



'>0 heaveti," they siiid, "our bleediiij! country save 
Is there. n(> hand on high to shieUI the brave ? 
Wh;it though destruction sweep these lovely plains! 
Rise tellow men ! tlur country yet rein;iins : 
By that dread name we wave tlie sword on high, 
And swear for her lo live; for her to die." 

Campbell's Pleasure op Hope. 

The year seventeen lnuHlred and eighty was tlie darkest 
period in the Kevolutionary stni.uiilc. From tlie mountains to 
the seaboard, a gloom rested upon tlic wlmlc country. For five 
years the colonies, against fearful odds, liad hecn hattling for 
freedom. The country was overrun, its treastny was eniiity, and 
its soldiers were hungry and naked. From the hills of ]Massachu- 
setts to the savannas of (Jeorgia, a darkness that could be l)oth 
seen and felt, envelo])ed the land. This was esi»ecially the case in 
South Carolina and Georgia. From the repulse of Sir Peter 
Parker, on the "JSth of .luiie, 177<), iiiilil Iheaulinmi of 1779, South 
Carolina, although in open and determiiit'd icbellion against the 
mother country, enjoyed comparative jx-acc. Supplies of arms 
and munitions of war, together with food and clothing for the 
army, were landed by different naf ions of Furope at Charleston. 
From this jioint, these army stores, together with rice and other 
|)i-oducts of the fields of South Carolina, were transported, by 
wagon trains, as far north as New Jersey. During this period, 
South Carolina grew and llouiished. notwithstanding the exist- 
ence of war. 

In the autumn of 1778, the scene began tocliange. Col. Camp- 
bell was sent from New York, by Sir Henry Clinton, to reduce 
Savannah, the capital of fJeorgia. On the '20th of December, 
Gen. Howe was forced to capitulate. Georgia fell into the hands 
of the enemy, and South Carolina now became a border State, ex- 
posed to the active military operations of the enemy. A bloody 
struggle was made, near a year afterward, for the recovery of 

* Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by Robert Lathaii and I.. M. 
Grist, in the office of the l.,ibrarian of Congress, at VVashingmn, D. C. >' 



BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 



15 



Savauiuib, but it piovecl unsuccessful. It soon became evident 
that the Britisli were determined to capture Charleston. Pre- 
vost, in May, 1779, had attempted to take the city by siege, but 
his plans were frustrated by the adroitness of Gov. Kutledge and 
tlie military prowess of General Moultrie. 

On the 26th of December, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton, witli the 
larger part of his army, sailed from New York for the South. 
In January of the following year, he landed on the coast of Geor- 
gia. He had but one object in view, and that was to crush the 
rebellion in all the Southern colonies. His purpose was to begin 
at the southern extremity and go northward, leaving the country 
in his rear in complete and absolute, if not willing, submission to 
the British government. The tirst thing to be done to effect his 
purpose, was the reduction of Charleston. On the 10th of Feb- 
ruary, he set out from Savannah to accomplish the cherished pur- 
pose of his heart. He was successful. Whether all was done 
tliat could have been done to save the city, or not, we shall not 
here inquire. Perhaps it would have been wise, under tlie exist- 
ing circumstances, not to have attempted its defense. The at- 
tempt, however, was made. Sir Henry Clinton commenced and 
carried on the siege with as much respect to the rules of military 
science, as if he had been conducting the siege of an old walled 
town. Reduced almost to starvation, and poorly provided for 
every way to stand a siege, the defenders of the city, after a close 
siege of nearly eight weeks, capitulated on the 12tli of May, 1780. 
The terms of the surrender were hard, and the conduct of the 
British commander afterward, was calculated to cast a gloom 
over the patriots. The civil government of Britain was establish- 
ed in the city, and plans were laid for establishing it over the 
whole State. Everything was done that could be done, to encour- 
age the tories and loyalists and dishearten the patriots. 

Early in June, Clinton and the fleet sailed for Kew York, 
leaving Lord Cornwallis to complete the establishing of civil 
government in the State. He commenced his march northward. 
Parties were sent out in all directions to disperse the patriots 
and gather up the tories and loyalists with which to swell his 
ranks. This was not enough. He determined to force those 
who, from the results of the war, were resting quietly at home, 
to take up arms against their friends and against the cause which 
they loved. Lord Cornwallis soon found that the country still 
remained, and there were many who had sworn for it to live and 
for it to die. In South Carolina, there was not then a regularly 
organized American army. There were small parties of men, in 



16 I'.Airi.K OK KrN(;'S >f()(N iatx. 

iiliiiost every section of the State, wlio disputed every inch of 
ground with Cornwallis. Still lie puslied on. Tories and loyalists 
Hocked to his standard, and many who, heretofore, had been re- 
garded as good Whigs, souglit Britisli iirotection. The country 
was full of tories and British. Piopeity was destroyed, old men 
and children w'ere almsed and cursed, and women insulted. Many, 
in despondency, gave up the cause as hopeless. Calamity after 
calamity fell upon the afflicted country. On the 16th of August, 
Oeneral Gates, the hero of Saratoga, was defeated and his army 
routed near Camden. Two days after, the brave Sumter was sur- 
l)rised at Fishing Creek, by Tarleton, and his command scattered. 

Such was the general condition of things in South Carolina 
and Georgia. Many brave men had hidden themselves l)eyond the 
mountains, that, like Alfred of old. they might emerge from these 
mountain fastnesses and rout the invading foe. These voluntary 
exiles j-eceived a Avelcome from tiie patriots of Watauga and 
iNollichucky. There they met Isaac Shelby and John Sevier. 
Amongst those refugees was Colonel Clarke, of Georgia, with 
about one hiuidred of his overpowered, but not subdued men. 
These refugees told the tales of suffering which they had seen in 
the States of Georgia and South Carolina. Their stories aroused 
the patriotism and stirred the spirits of the hardy i)i(uieers of the 
forest. 

After the defeat of Gates at Canulen, Cornwallis, as had l)een 
done by his i)redecessor. Clinton, inoceeded at once to establish 
civil govenmient in the upper section of the State. Tarleton 
and Ferguson were ordered to scour the State. The ol)ject w^as 
to beat U]) the lories and loyalists and disiierse the AVhigs. Fer- 
guson, with about one thousand loyalists and one hundred and 
ten regulars, had been in the Ninety-Six District for some time, 
and portions of his command had been, on several occasions, 
badly cut up by the Whigs. Patrick Ferguson was a ]Ma.jor in 
the British army, and Brigadier General of the Royal ;Militia of 
South Carolina. The second officer in his command was Captain 
DePeyster, a loyalist. The AVhig colonels, McDowell. Sevier, 
Shelby, AVilliams and Clarke, were known to frequent this section 
of the State. The fact that small detachments of tories had been 
attacked and routed by the bold itartisans, greatly incensed the 
JJritish officer. Meetings of the tories and loyalists were held 
tiiroughout the Xinety-Six District. Those who claimed to Ite 
tories or loyalists, were tlireatened witli severe i>unishment if 
tiiey did not take up arms and assist his majesty's troops in put- 
ting down the reliellion. Ferguson U(tw found that the rebellion. 



BATTLE OF KTKG's MOUNTAIN". 17 

which Clinton and his successor, Cornwallis, thovight was crushed 
out, was stalking over tlie land like a giant. Whigs, tories and 
loyalists, found that each party was in earnest, and a desperate 
eft'ort must be made, or all would be lost. 

On the 18th of August — the day on which Sumter was sur- 
prised by Tarleton at Fislung Creek — Col. McDowell was encamp- 
ed at Smith's Ford on Broad River. He had learned that a party 
of tories, near five hundred in number, were encamped at Mus- 
grove's Mill, on the south side of Enoree River. Colonels Wil- 
liams, Shelby and Clarke, were detached for the purpose of sur- 
prising them. It was a dangerous undertaking, for Ferguson was 
encamped, with his whole force, midway between McDow^ell and 
the tories. At sun set, the party moved, and by taking a right 
hand road, passed Ferguson's cam}) in safety. The tories were 
commanded by Col. Innis and Majoi' Frazer. Shelby, Williams 
and Clarke, arrived at the tory camp just at day-light. Tlie 
attack was made, and although the tories had been reinforced by 
six lunidred regulars under funis, a complete victory was gained. 
Fluslied with victory, tlie conquerors determined to make an at- 
tack upon Ninety-Six. Just at this moment a courier arrived, 
bringing the sad news that General Gates had been defeated on 
tlie Kith at Camden. They were urged by McDowell to make no 
delay, lest they sliould be captured by Fergusou. Tliey had more 
than two hundred prisoners. The men were tired, and so M^ere 
their horses. Tlie prisoners were divided out amongst tlie men, 
giving every three men two prisoners. After they were complete- 
ly oiit of the reach of Ferguson, Shelby went liome, leaving 
Clarke and Williams in charge of the prisoners. Col. Clarke 
having accompanied Col. Williams for a short distance after the 
departure of Slielby, took his connnand and returned liome, leaving 
Col. Williams in charge of the prisoners, by whom they were taken 
to Hillsborough, North Carolina. Governor Rutledge, of South 
Carolina, wlio, at this time, was in Hillsborough, s.eeing Williams 
in charge of so many prisoners and supposing that he had been the 
principal actor in the affair, immediately gave him a Brigadier 
General's commission as a reward for his supposed brave and he- 
roic exploit. 

McDowell, so stjon as lie heard that Gates w\as defeated, broke 
up his camp at Smith's Ford and marched for the mountains. 
His command was scattered. Some of his men went home, whilst 
others accompanied their commander beyond the mountains. Fer- 
guson was left in full possession of the field. Tlie Wliigs were 
plundered of their property and driven from their homes. Many 

2 



18 



HATTLK OF KING S MOFXTATN. 



of tliein were forced to liidc out in uiifreciuented spots, whilst not 
a few were cjuifjiit and c-rnelly nuirdered. The brave and enter- 
prising; British officer puslied liis way as far as Gilbert ToAvn, near 
tlie present site of Eutherfordton, in Xortli Carolina. Sonth 
Carolina was now under the paw of the Jiritish lion. Some 
crouched and begged for quarter; but there were a few noble 
spirits — enough to save the country — who had sworn for their 
country to live, and for her to die, Ferguson was not ignorant 
of this fact. He knew the history of those men who were beyond 
tiie mountains. He knew tliat tiieir ancestors, for more than two 
hundred years, had been fighting for freedom, and he saw that the 
wilds of America had strengthened the love of liberty in their 
children. He knew that they were Scotch-Irish and Huguenots 
by descent. He knew that they could be crushed into the earth, 
that they could be torn limb from limb, that they could be buried 
beneatii the eartli, but he feared their very dust. 

He liad liis spies in tlie mountain country, and from tliem lie 
had learned what was going on in tlie valleys of NoUichucky and 
Watauga. These spies often brought him the startling news 
that their fellows w^ere caught and hanged, wliile others were 
tarred and suffered to return as a taunt to their champion leader. 
Ferguson raged. He cursed the rebels for their daring, and he 
cursed the tories and loyalists for their Avant of courage. 

While Colonel Ferguson lay at Gilbert Town, he paroled 
Samuel Phillijjs, a patriot, whom he held as a prisoner, and sent 
him with a tlireatening message to the back mountain men. The 
puri»ort of this messsage was, that if these i)atriots in Watauga 
and Nollichncky did not lay down their arms and submit to the 
King of England, lie wovUd come over the mountain and hang the 
last one of tliem. This was not a mere bdast. lie contemi)lated 
doing what lie said. Ferguson was no idle boaster. Xo sooner 
had Samuel Phillips delivered his message, tlian tlie horrors of 
Itast generations loomed up before the eyes of the patriots of 
Watauga and Nollichncky. The blood of John Sevier and Isaac 
Siielby was stirred. Sevier was eloquent under the imjailse of a 
holy resentment, and the brow of Shelby was knit with indig- 
nation, and iiis whole <'ountenance indiiated stern defiance. 
These noble men at once concluded that tlicy would thwai't 
Ferguson in his bloody jmriiose, and ii tlit-re \v;is any lianging to 
be done, they would do it. 

The plan for raising a siitlicient number ot iiicii to acctmiplish 
tiieir imrpose was soon (U-vised. To Sevier was assigned the 
duty of communicating with McDowell and the other officers who 



BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 



19 



were then in voliuitavy exile lieyoiid tlie nioinitaius. Shelby as- 
sumed, as his part ol' the work, the M'riting of a letter to Col. Wil- 
liam Cam])bell, of Washington county, Virginia. The letter was 
written. The threat of Ferguson was stated, and tlie plan for 
his destruction revealed. In this letter Campbell was earnestly 
requested to cooperate. This letter was placed in the hands of 
Moses Shelby, a brother of Isaac, and duly delivei-ed. Colonel 
Campbell declined to render his assistance, stating that his inten- 
tions were to assist in preventing Cornwallis from reaching Vir- 
ginia. This message was returned by Moses Shelby. Colonel 
Shelby immediately wrote another letter to Col. Campbell, in 
which he urged him, more strongly, to lend his assistance. Al- 
though Campbell was as firm and unyielding as a mountain, 
still he was not blind to reason or deaf to the calls of duty. He 
sent Shelby word that he would come and bring his whole com- 
mand. This was more than was expected. The place of general 
rendezvous was Sycamore Shoal, on the Watauga ; tlie time, the 
twenty-fifth of Se])tember. 

At the appointed time, the entire inhabitants of the back 
mountain region assembled at Sycamore Shoal, and Campbell, 
with his Virginians, was there. Everybody was in earnest. There 
were no gay uniforms ; no costly plumes ; no long trains of bag- 
gage wagons ; no aniliulances ; no surgeon ; no chaplain. Officers 
and men Avere clad in suits made by their wives, mothers and 
sisters, and each man intended for the expedition was armed with 
a faithful Deckhard ritle.* 

All assembled; but all dare not leave the settlement. The 
Cherokee Indians were on the borders, watching an opportunity 
to descend with the torch and tomahawk ui)on the neighborhood. 
On the morning of the 26th of September, preparations were made 
for the advance. To victory or to death, was the feeling of every 
breast. They were rougli men externally, but they had brave 
and tender hearts. Charles McDowell moved amongst the multi- 
tude with all the grace and ease of nobility. John Sevier was 
full of impulse and an energy which never tired. Isaac Shelby 
had little to say. His knit brow meant speedy action. William 
Campbell showed, by his stern dignity, that he was born to be 
free. The officers proposed, before they set out, tliat the company 
be called together and the divine blessing be asked. A prayer, 

* In its day, llie Deckhard rifle was as famous as is tlie Enfield rifle of tlie present time. 
It was niaile in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and bore the name of its maker. The 
barrel was tlireo feet and six inilies long, and carried a ball which weighed about one 
fourth of an ounce. 'I'he gun usually weighed about seven pounds, was trained with great 
care, and in the hand of a frontieriuan, wa< a deadly weapon. 



20 BATTLE OF KTNO's MOINTAIN. 

solciiiu and aiiiiiojuiate, beiii.n" olft-rcd up, tlic i)ai-ty desiffiied for 
tlic cxiK'ditioii iiioiuited tlicir liorses, and tlie rest returned to 
tlit'ir homes. With anxious hearts did tliese wait until the result 
was lieard. 

The troops left Sycamore Shoal on the twenty-sixth. Tliey 
were all mounted and unencumbered by baggage of any kind what- 
evei-. They expected to support themselves, on the way, by their 
rillts, or by forcing the tories to feed them and their horses. The 
force consisted of one thousand and forty men, as follows: From 
Burke and Rutherford counties, North Carolina, Col. McDowell, 
160'men. From Washington county, North Carolina, (now Ten- 
nessee) Col. John Sevier, 240 men. From Sullivan county. North 
Carolina, (now Tennessee) Col. Isaac Shelby, 240 men. From 
AVashington county. Virginia, Col. William Cami>bell, 400 men. 

The Sycamore Shoal is near the iiead of the Watauga. From 
tliis i)oint, they pursued nearly an eastern direction, across the 
Yellow Momitain; afterward their course was nearly south. The 
first niglit they spent at Matthew TolboCs mill. The second day, 
two of their men deserted and went ahead to the enemy. On tlie 
."iOtli of September they reached the foot of the mountain on tlie east 
side. Here they were joined by tiuee hundred and lii'ty men from 
Wilkes and Surry counties, under the connnand of Colonel Benja- 
min Cleveland and iSlajor .loseph Winston. C'leveland and AVins- 
ton were keeping themselves concealed that they might join in witli 
any party going against the enemy. The first of October — the 
se(!ond day after the junction with Cleveland — was so wet that it 
was thought advisable not to move. Ferguson was thought 
to be at Gilliert Town, and as the guns in those days were all 
Hint and steel locks, it was indiscreet to ai)]troach an enemy with 
wet guns. 

Up to tliis time there was no conniianding otlicer. Shelby 
perceived that there was a great defect in their organization, and. 
during the rain, called a council of the otlicers. They were now 
in Col. Charles McDowell's region, and advancing against an ene- 
my with wiiicli he had hitely been contending. He was, more- 
over, the senior officer, and it was natural that lie would l)e ex- 
pected to take the command of the wliole. No one doubted 
Charles ^IcDowell's patriotism or bravery; but it was thought 
that he was not the man to command a partisan corps on an en- 
teri»rise like that in which tliey were at that time engaged. Slicl- 
by proi»osed William Campbell as commander-in-cliief tor the 
]>resent, and that a messenger be sent to headcjuarters, wheiever 
that might be. for a commanding ollicer. who siiould take charge 



r.ATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 



21 



of the whole C()i'i)s. This proposition was readily assented to by 
all, and Col. Clias. McDowell volnnteered to go to headqnarters 
after a general officer, and his l)rother, Joseph McDowell, took 
command of his men vuitil he wonld return. 

Here, for a time, let us leave these patriotic moiuitain men, 
until we can bring up the other forces who were prominent actors 
in the battle of King's Mountain. After Sumter's defeat at 
Fishing Creek, on the 18th of August, he and Col. Edward Lacy, 
with a small portion of Sumter's command, passed over into 
Mecklenburg, North Carolina. They camped on Clem's Branch. 
Lacy was sent by Sumter into Yoik and Chester counties, to gath- 
er ui) the Irish of tliat region, wlio were known to be true Whigs, 
and also to collect all that he could of Sumter's army tliat was 
scattered at Fishnig Creek. 

After Lacy's return to Sumter's encampment, on C^lein's 
Branch, Col. .James Williams, who, as we have seen, was made a 
Brigadier-General by Governor Rutledge shortly after the battle of 
Musgrove's Mill, arrived in camp, and having shown his conunis- 
siou, claimed the authority to take command of all the Soutli Caro- 
lina troops in that section. On the 8th of September, Williams had 
been ordered, or rather "requested," by Abner Nash, Governor of 
North Carolina, "to go into Caswell county and such other coun- 
ties as he might think proper, and raise a body of volunteer horse- 
men, not to exceed one hundred." With these and a few other 
troops, Williams came to Sumter's camp, on Clem's Branch. Tlie 
South Carolina soldiers of Sumter's command positively refused to 
snl)mit to Williams as a general. They preferred Sumter. The 
main objection that tlie soldiers had against Williams was, that 
having at one time been the commissary of Sumter' scommand, he 
had acted in some way or other so as to gain the ill will and even 
the hatred of many of the men. What tlie facts in the case were, 
it is impossible, at this late date, to learn with sufficient accuracy 
to warrant us in saying who was to blame, Williams or the men. 
No doubt, both were, to some extent, in the fault. Be this as it 
may, a difficulty sprung up between Sumter and Williams, and 
but for the presence of the enemy, it might have ended in some- 
thing serious. 

Whilst the dilRculty was ])euding, it was learned that Rawdon 
and Tarleton, with a large force, were making preparations for at- 
tacking them. It was concluded by both parties, that they would 
cross the Catawba River at Bigger 's Ferry (now Wright's.) Hav- 
ing crossed the river, a council of officers was called to settle the 
difficulty. Col. William Hill, who was wounded at the battle of 



22 I'.ATTLK OK KING'S MOUNTAIN. 

Ilangins" Kock, was made cliairmaii of this council. Wliilst tlie 
council was (liscussins? tlic matter, l^iwdon and T-.wh ton ai)i)eared 
on (lie opposite bank of the rivei', and coniincnccd firini-- at tiiem 
across tile river. It was evident tliat tlie enemy would not allow 
them time to look into the matter, and their existence deiiended 
upon i)erfect harmony amonji; themselves It was a.t^'reed to refer 
the wii(de matter, with all the facts in the case, to Goveiiior Rut- 
ledse, then at Hillsborough, North Carolina. In the meantime, 
however, Sumter was to retire from the army until the de(?ision 
of Rutledge was heard. Williams would remain in command of 
his North Carolina trooi)s, and Colonels Hill and Lacy would take 
connnand of the South Carolina troops. 

Colonels Winn, Middleton, Thomas and Ham])tou, were sent 
as commissioners to Governor Rutledge; and I.acy and Hill, in 
the hope of forming a junction with General William Davidson, 
led the army np tlie Catawba, and crossed at Tuckaseege Ford. 
Governor Nash, of North Carolina, had instructed Colonel AVil- 
liaius (then General) to proceed in any direction and ojieiate 
against tlie enemy. His instructions were A'ery general, leaving 
the whole matter to the discretion of Williams himself. AVhile 
the army, consisting of about four hundred and fifty men, then 
under the command of IHU, Lacy and Williams, were on the 
east side of Catawba River, in the neigli)K)rhood of Tuckaseege 
Ford, Williams' scouts brought the infoimation that a body of 
back-mountain men were already on the east side of the moun- 
tain, on their way to tight Ferguson. They immediately crossed 
the Catawba, at Beattie's Ford, with the intention of going in 
l)ursuit of Ferguson. Here they were joined by Majors Graham 
and Hambright, with about seventy-five men, and not long after- 
wards by Coloiuls Hammond and Roebuck, and Majors Ciironicle 
and Hawthorne, with about sixty men. 

AVillianis had his scouts out watching Ferguson. He was 
the mon; prompt in doing this, from the fact that his home was on 
Little River, in what is now Laurens county. This territory 
was embraced in Ferguson's field of oi)erations. A consultation 
was held by Williams, Hill, T.acy, Roebuck, Graham, Hammond, 
IIaml)right, Ibainion. Hawthorne and Chronicle, as to what 
should V)e done, ll was at once determined that a messenger 
should be .sent to communicate with the back-mountain men, to 
iut'onu tiieni with regard to Ferguson's movements and his place 
of encampment, and to make arrangements for the cobi)eration of 
the two forces. Colonel Edward T-acy, whose home was a few 
miles northwest of the present town of Chester, and who owned 



ISATTLE OF king's MOUNTAIN. 



23 



a large amount of the lands on which the town of Chester is built, 
was chosen as the messenger. It was a good choice. Lacy was 
recklessly brave, and although a rough man, still, a man of good 
address. He was a sterling Wliig. It turned out that the two 
camps were, at that time, sixty miles apart; but Lacy never stop- 
ped a moment until, late at niglit, he reached the cami) of Camp- 
bell. This was on the night of the 4th of October. Lacy was 
seized by the patroling party, and, without ceremony, blindfolded. 
He asked to be taken, without delay, to the commander's quar- 
ters. He was at first regarded by all as a spy, and had lie not 
been a true Whig, and shown it by every word and action, he 
would have paid the penalty in a few minutes. 

Tliat day, Campbell and his mountain men had reached Gil- 
bert Town, and finding Ferguson had decamped, and learning 
that he was gone to Ninety-Six, which had lately been repaired 
and reinforced, a council of war had been held but a short time 
before Lacy arrived, and it was concluded to abandon the chase. 
Lacy then informed them that Ferguson was in the neigliborhood 
of Cherokee Ford— that he was not aiming to reach jSTinety-Six; 
but his point of destination was Charlotte, North Carolina. They 
were urged to annul the previous resolution of the night, and 
meet the troops under "Williams, Hill and other leaders, at a place 
called the Cowpens, on the Gth. This was done, and after Lacy 
had fed his horse, eaten a supper of what the partisan camp could 
afford, and enjoyed a few hours' sleep on the ground, he was up 
and away to join his command, which was now on its way to the 
Cowpens. 

Let usieave the two armies and trace the movements of Col- 
onel Ferguson. On the 4th of October— the day that Campbell 
and his men arrived at Gilbert Town — Ferguson had broken up 
his camp. The two deserters from Campbell's command had 
informed him of what was going on. He knew the men he had 
to deal with. He had met some of them before. Wisely, he 
concluded that his safety depended on getting out of their way. 
It would not be true to say that Col. Ferguson was frightened, 
for no braver man ever lived or fought or died on a l)attle-field ; 
but he most assuredly felt tiiat he was in a critical situation. 
Cornwallis had already perceivefithe danger with which Ferguson 
was surrounded, and had ordered him to join him at Charlotte. 
Ferguson now saw that it would require all his skill to reach that 
point. On breaking up his camp at Gilbert Town, he sent two 
tories— Abe Collins and Peter Quinn — to Cornwallis at Charlotte, 
to inform that ofticer of his critical situation and to request aid. 



24 



IIATILK Ol" KING S MOlN'rAlN. 



The messengers were hindered on the way by the presence of the 
Whigs in the neighlwrliood, and did not reach Charlotte unlil 
the 7th ; consequently, the aid was not received. Ferguson, on 
leaving Gilbert Town, made tiie inii)r('ssion that he was going to 
Ninety-Six, and when Campbell and his party arrived at Gilbert 
Town, they were told that Ferguson was distant lili> or sixty 
miles. This was a feint. On the fourth of r)ctol)er, Ferguson 
camped at the Cowpens, about twenty miles from Gilbert Town. 
On the otli, lie crossed Broad River at Tate's Ferry, near where 
the Air-Line Railroad now crosses Broad River, and spent the 
night about a mile above the ferry. On the 6th, he i)ushed on 
up the ridge road between King's Creek and Buffalo Creek, until 
he came to the fork near Whitaker Station, on the Air-Line 
Railroad. Thei'e he took the right prong, leading across King's 
Creek, through a pass in the mountain, and on in the direction 
of Yorkville. TTere, a short distance after crossing King's Creek, 
on the right of the road, about two hundred and fifty yards from 
the pass in the mountain, on an eminence which he claimed, in 
honor of his majesty, to have called King's Mountain,* and whicii 
still retains the name, he encamped, determined to remain until 
his reinforcements from Cornwallis would arrive. 

From Gilbert Town to King's Mountain, he evi<lently was 
retreating. lie felt that he had a terrilile foe to deal with. He 
begged, he entreated the tories and loyalists to turn out and ren- 
der him assistance. Finding that gentle measures accomi)lished 
nothing, he threatened to hang them if they did not shoulder their 
muskets and march against the rebels. His threats were as un- 
availing as his entreaties. On arriving at King's IMBuntain, he 
granted some of the royalists and tories permission to go into the 
surrounding country for the i)uri)ose of beating uji recruits. 

The inhabitants of the region surrounding King's Mountain, 
were, with a few exceptions, tories. These recruiting officers of 
Ferguson went to plundering their Whig neighbors. Instead 
of hunting up recruits for the King's army, they went to rob- 
V^ing the gardens and killing the hogs of the Whigs in the com- 
munity. Here, strongly posted on King's ^lountain, let us, for 
a short time, leave Col. Ferguson. 

Before sunrise (m the morning of the Gth of Octol)er, the 
forces under Colonel Campbell were ordered to march. The 
immediate i)oint of destination was the Cowpens. The whole 

* Noiwillistaiulijig lliis dccUirati'iii of Co.oru'l Fi-rgu-ioii, it is iwobalilc lliat King's Moun- 
tain was so called t'roni a man by tlin name of King, who lived in the neighborhood. 
From the same individual, it is probable that King's Creek derived its name. 



BATTLK OF KIXG'S MOUNTAIN. 



25 



ot tlie night i)revioiis liacl been spent in selecting from his entire 
force, wliich now numbered about three thousand, the best men, 
the best horses arid the best guns. The number selected was 
nine hundred and ten. These were ordered to advance rapidly 
in pursuit of the foe, whilst the remainder were to follow leis- 
urely. Before sundown, they reached the Cowpens. There they 
found Col. Hambright and Major Chronicle, with sixty North 
Carolinians from Tryon county, and Col. James Williams with 
near two thousand South Carolinians. From these, nine hun- 
dred and thirty-three were selected to join the nine hundred and 
ten under Col. Cam]ibell, in pursuit of Col. Ferguson.* Many of 
the officers were without commands, occupying simply the po- 
sition of men in ranks. It was raining and dark, but all were 
enthusiastic. They had set out to find Ferguson, and find him 
they would. An hour was given the troops to rest, during which 
time two beeves were killed; l)ut the time was so short that some 
of the men did not get a mouthful prepared. There were several 
l)ands of tories in the neigliborhood, whom they could have easily 
captured, but they were in search of Ferguson, and they let the 
tories alone, although it was known that these tories were to join 
Ferguson the next day. By eiglit o'clock every man was in the 
saddle and on the trail of Ferguson. It rai)ied all night, and was 
dark. Tlie guide got lost for a time. The men, in order to keep 
tlieir guns dry, wrapped tliem up with their over-coats and blankets 
when they had tliem, and with their hunting shirts when these 
were wanting. On the morning of the 7th, just before sunrise, 
they reached Broad River, about a mile and a half below Cherokee 
Ford, expecting to find Ferguson on the east bank. They crossed 
the river and marched up its bank, and soon came to Ferguson's 
camp of the night of the 5tli. Here a halt was made, and those 
who had anything to eat, eat it, and those who had nothing did 
without. The delay was only :^or a moment. Although hungry, 

* It is not very easy to determine, witli any degree of certainty, the exact number of 
Americans actually engaged at the battle of King's Mountain. Tlie Western army, that 
is, that portion of the forces, commanded by Campbell, Shelby, Sevier and Cleveland, num- 
bered, on the 5th of October, about three thousand. Of this nnmber, nine hundred and ten, 
both Campbell and Shelby say, were selected to pursue Ferguson. The South ('aroliiiians, 
which according to i'>>\- Hill amounted to near two thousand, were made u[i of individuals 
who had joined the army in its march from Bigger's Ferry, in York county, to the Cowpens 
in Spartanburg county. Before King's Mountain was reached, a very large number of 
the men had fallen behind. Some of the companies had lost their way, and it is almost 
certain that not more than one thousand men were in the fight. In fact, one account puts 
the number at about seven hundred. This, we think, too small. It is a fact that the men 
were coming in during the whole of the fight. Countrymen having learned what was go- 
ing on, mounted tlieir horses, bare-backed, and some of them took their horses from the 
plow, and witliout taking time to lay off the harness, mounted and rushed to the scene of 
action, having no arm< but their squirrel gun?; The number of men selected for the enter- 
prise was much greeted than the number engaged in the battle, and many were in it, who 
had not been selected. They had come of their own accord and foughtin true partisan style. 



26 ]?ATTLE OF KING?S MOUNTAIN. 

wet and tired, tlu-y pushed on witli as imicli zeal as if tlie search 
had just conimeiu'ed. Ferguson's trail was fresh, and tiiey knew 
that tliey would soon see who would do the lianji'ing ! For a dis- 
tance of twelve miles, they saw no one but their own party, and 
learned nothing of Ferguson's whereabouts. When they had 
gone about twelve miles, after crossing Broad Kiver, the advance 
party met some persons coming from Ferguson's camp. At the 
same time, a boy about fourteen years old, by the luune of John 
Fonderiu, was found in an old field. The boy said his brother was 
in Ferguson's camp. The story of the men and boy agreed, and 
from them it was learned that Ferguson's cam]) Avas only tliree 
miles distant. The location, was accurately described by these 
men and young Fonderin, and the intentions of Ferguson learned. 
A dispatch, which he had sent to Cornwalls for aid, was afterward 
intercejtted. From this his force was learned, and also wliat he 
thouglit about being able to defend himself. In that dispatcli 
he boastingly, or rather profanely, we should say, declared that 
such was the nature of the place he had chosen for a camj), "that 
all the rebels out of hell could not drive him from it." This dis- 
patch, with the exception of the statement of the number of Fer- 
guson's force, was read aloud to the men. The otticersheld a con- 
sultation on horse-back, and concluded upon the mode of attack. 
It was agreed that since Cami)bell had come the greatest dis- 
tance, and had brought the largest number of men, that lie should 
be the commander in chief. It was now past twelve o'clock. 
The rain had ceased, the clouds had passed away, and the sun 
was shining brightly. The pursuers of Ferguson had followed 
his trail fnmi eight o'clock on the previous night, and now they 
were within four miles of his camp. The order was given "to tie 
up over-coats and blankets, throw priming out of pans, pick touch 
holes, prime anew, examine bullets, and see tliat everything is in 
readiness for battle." Tliey wer^ now within sight of the object 
for wliich some of them had been in search for nearly two weeks. 
They were fully aware of tlie kind of foe they had to encounter— 
a brave man and a cool ofiicer. They had to face British regulars, 
who would rush upon them with bayonets ; and tories who knew 
it was victory or death. On they went, determined still to be 
free or die. They ascended an eminence on the western side of 
the mountain, and Ferguson's camp was in full view. They dis- 
mounted and tied their horses and i)repared for the conHict. The 
mode of attack determined ui)on was to surround the mountain 
and pour in a deadly tire upon tlie enemy from all sides at the 
same time. 



I'.ATTLE OK KIKO'S MOUNTAIN. 2 / 

King's Mountain, upon whicli Col. Ferguson was encamped, 
is a spur of the Blue Ridge. It is a narrow, oval shaped knoll, 
liaving the direction of the Blue Ridge, and terminates abruptly 
at its northern extremity. It is covered with a kind of slate 
stone. The ridge, which is about one hundred and twenty feet 
a.l)ove the ravines by which it is surrounded, and about a mile 
long, is not more tlian thirty yards wide, and the sides, especially 
on the north, are precipitous. It is situated in York county. 
South Carolina, about a mile and a half from the Jforth Carolina 
line. Many of the men in Col. Williams' command were Whigs 
from the surrounding country. They had left their hiding places 
when, in the language of an old Revolutionary war song, "Old 
Williams came from Hillsborough, they flocked to him amain." 
Tliese men understood the nature of the ground accurately. They 
had hunted deer on the same place frequently. In view of this 
fact, the guides for the other troops were chosen from Williams' 
men. 

When the exact location of Ferguson's camp was learned, 
tlie army of pursuers marched in four columns. Col. Campbell's 
regiment, with part of Cleveland's regiment, commanded by 
Major Winston, formed tlie riglit centre ; Col. Shelby's regiment, 
the left centre. Col. Sevier's regiment composed the right wing ; 
and the troops under Col. Williams and the remainder of Col. 
Cleveland's i-egiment, commanded by himself, formed the left 
wing. 

On arriving in full view of the enemy, and having tied their 
horses and leaving a small guard to watch them, the troops com- 
manded by Shelby, Sevier, McDowell, Campbell and Winston, 
were ordered to file to the right and pass round the enemy's camp 
on the mountain. Tliose under Cleveland, Chronicle, Hambright 
and Williams, were to file to the left and pass round. Both par- 
ties were to continue their march, without firing, until they met. 
Then the enemy's camp would be completely surrounded. The 
order was then to face toward the enemy, raise the Indian war- 
whoop, and rush forward upon the foe. 

It was near three o'clock on the afternoon of the 7th of Octo- 
ber, 1780. The destiny of American liberty was in the hands of 
a few undisciplined militia. It never was in better hands than 
when it was entrusted to those brave men who fought and bled 
and died and w^on the victory over Col. Ferguson on King's 
Mountain. The order is given to march. On they go, with the 
steadiness of veterans. Every order is executed with as much 
promptness as if they had been trained regulars. 



28 



BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 



The British coiniuciiccd to fire upon Shelby's men as tlie riglit 
wiiij? passed round the mountain. McDowell returned the fire, 
and tlie action became general. The keen crack of the deadly 
Deckliard riHe, and the Indian war-whoop, lieard all round the 
enemy's camp, announctnl that every man was in liis ])lace. Fer- 
guson ordered his regulars to charge upon the right wing of tiie 
Whigs, This drove McDowell, Shelby and Campbell l)ack ; but 
at this very moment Chronicle, Hambright, Cleveland and Wil- 
liams had ascended the ojtposite extremity of the mountain and 
driven tlie British and tories l)ehind tlieir wagons. Ferguson was 
here himself. Ilis men were falling on all sides. lie immediately 
sent for DePeyster, who had led the charge against McDowell, 
Shelby and Campbell. As DePeyster passed back along the ridge, 
the South Carolinians, under Williams, poured in a deadly Are 
upon him. His ranks were soon thinned and tlie regulars tlirown 
into confusion. They, however, inmiediately rallied and made a 
dreadful i)usli against Chronicle and Cleveland, driving them down 
the moimtaiu. Here Chronicle was killed. The cliarge of the 
British upon the left of the Whigs was mistaken by tlie right luider 
Shelby, McDowell and Campbell, for a retreat, and the shout was 
raised, "Huzza, boys, they are retreating. Come on." On, on, 
the left wing of the Whigs, in solid plialanx, rushed upon the 
enemy. Ferguson was now forced to meet tlie riglit wing. The 
left wing, as the right wing before had done, mistook the charge 
of the British for a retreat, faced about and rushed ui>on, as they 
thought, the retreating foe. Thus each charge of the enemy was 
mistaken by the Whigs on the opposite side for a retreat. Fergu- 
son galloped back and forth along his lines, encouraging his men 
with entreaties and with curses. Tn spite of all his skill and the 
desperate courage of his men, his ground was taken from him and 
he was forced to occupy a small portion of the ridge near the 
northern extremity. He ordered his cavalry to mount ; but this 
move proved unavailing. The men were shot down as soon as 
they mounted. He prepared for a last and desperate charge. 
The tories were ordered to sharpen the handles of their butcher 
knives and fasten them in the muzzles of their guns, and, with 
the British regulars, charge upon the rebels. This also %vas of no 
avail. The AVhigs were all around them, and confusion was in 
tlie British camp. DePeyster hoisted a white flag. Ferguson 
pulled it down. DePeyster raised it at the other extremity of 
the British camp. Ferguson saw it and darted, at the full gallop, 
and, with his sword, entail down, swearing that he would never 
surrender to militia. He had been wounded in the liand, but in 



r.ATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 



29 



this wounded hand lie bore a silver whistle, whose shrill sound in- 
spired courage in the already vanquislied. A ball from some un- 
known rifle threw the hero from his charger, and DePeyster 
again hoisted a white flag. 

The tories and British ceased firing, but the Whigs, either not 
understanding the import of a white flag, or knowing that it had 
been hoisted twice before and was pulled down, continued to fire. 
The ofiicers ordered their men to cease firing ; but the blood o£ the 
Whigs was warm and fire they would. Col. Shelby then ordered 
the British to lay down their arms, and the men would under- 
stand this as a sign that they surrendered. This was done, and 
the British were ordered to leave their guns, most of which were 
loaded, and march to another place. The Whigs then marched 
up and took possession of the enemy's camp. 

The victory was complete. 14'either man nor horse escaped. 
The whole force of the British amounted to eleven hundred and 
twenty-five men, of which number eleven hundred and five fell 
into the hands of the Whigs. Twenty were out on a plundering 
expedition. Of the eleven hundred and five taken by the Whigs, 
five hundred and five were either dead or so badly wounded as not 
to be able to be moved. The Whig loss was twenty-eight killed 
and sixty wounded. Everything pertaining to the camp of Fergu- 
son fell into the hands of the AVhigs. Besides liis provisions and 
cami) equipage, the Whigs got a number or splendid horses and 
fifteen hundred stand of arpas and a supply of powder and bul- 
lets. When the patriots saw what they had achieved, they raised 
a shout which was heard for "seven miles on the plain." 

The Whigs slept on the battle-field the night after the figiit. 
The next morning the dead were hurriedly buried, the wounded 
Whigs cared for, the enemy's wagons burned, and the patriots 
departed. Lacy and Hill marched down into York county and 
encami)ed on Bullock's Creek. Campbell and the Korth Carolin- 
ians took the prisoners and hastened to get beyond the mountains. 
As tliey had more prisoners than men, and as it was important to 
save the captured guns, the flints were all removed and the pris- 
oners made to carry .them. 

At Bickerstaff's old field, a court martial was held in order to 
decide what should be done with the tories. Thirty were con- 
demned to be hanged ; but all except nine of the most notorious 
were pardoned. 

No victory ever was more complete than that of King's 
Mountain, and none was more timely for the interest of America. 
The British, tories and loyalists, in every section of the country, 



30 



I'.AT'rr.i': of Kix(i's mountaix. 



wciv panic stricken, and llie "NViu.ufs cncdniaiicd. Cornwallis took 
fricflit and left (Miarlottc, abandoning liis contemplated niarcli 
into Virginia. 

As a revolutionai y relic wortliy of preservation, we apjiend the 
following rather rough i)ipce of poetry, which was called ''The 
Battle of King's Monntain." We suppose the author's name is 
unknown to any one. The third and fourth lines, and i)ossil)ly 
more, are wanting. Kough as it is, it is still wortliy of being 
preserved. 

Old Williams from Hillslioroiigli came; 

To liim the South Carolinians flocked amain. 

We marctu'd to the ('ovvpens ; (Campbell was there, 

Shelby, Cleveland and Colonel Sevier ; 

Men of renown, sir, like lions so bold, 

Like lions uiidaunt'd ne'er to be controlled, 

We set out on our march that very same night ; 

Sometimes we were wrong, sometimes we were right; 

(lur hearts being run in true liberty's mould. 

We valued not hunger, wet weary nor cold. 

Ou the top of King's Mountain, the old rogue we fouml. 

And like brave heroes his camp did surround ; 

Like lightning the flashes, like thunder the noise, 

Our rifles struck the poor lories with sudilen surprise. 

( >\d Williams and twenty five more. 

When the batlle was over, lay rolled in their gore. 

With sorrow their bodies were interred in the clay, 

Hoping to heaven their souls took their way. 

This being ended, we shouted amain. 

Our voices were heard seven miles on the plain ; 

[..iberty shall stand — the tories shall fall ; 

Here is the end of my song, so God bless you all. 



WASHINGTON'S BIRTH-DAY. 



CELEBKATED BY THE KING'S MOUNTAIN CENTEN- 
NIAL ASSOCIATION, ON THE 21ST OF EEBEUARY, 
AT KING'S MOUNTAIN, N. C. 

[extract from the yorkville enquirer.] 

At 9 o'clock the crowd, which had been increasing all the 
morning, by arrivals on the railroad, and by private conveyances, 
from all directions of the siu'rounding country, numbered, as was 
generally estimated, from three to five thousand. 

According to the programme, the flag presentation was to 
take ])lace at a point two and a half miles from the town, near 
the King's Mountain gold mine, and in full view of the pinnacle 
of the mountain. The booming of cannon which had been posted 
on the mountain, was the signal for the vast throng to commence 
moving in that direction, all manner of vehicles being brought 
into requisition, while the larger number who could not procure 
this mode of transportation, made their way on foot, preceded by 
the Gastonia brass l)and, the Hornets' Nest Eifles, Capt. H. 
Watts, of Charlotte ; the Jenkins Rifles, Capt. Robert H. Glenn, 
of Yorkville ; and the corps of cadets of King's Mountain High 
School. 

A salute of thirty-eight guns was fired by gun detachment of 
Light Battery E, ] United States Artillery, and after music by 
the band, an impressive prayer was offered by Rev. E. E. Boyce 
when Col. A. Coward, introduced the orator of the day, Col. 
Thomas Hardeman, of Georgia. In the discharge of this pleasing 
duty, said Col. Coward, it was to him a matter of pride tliat he 
met on this occasion, almost under the shadow of the historic 
mountain, so many of his countrymen who had assembled on 
this occasion to do honor to the Father of his Country and to 



32 



CKT.EimATTOX OF WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 



iiniugnrate the ceremonies attendiiis' a iMoper celebration of the 
imi)ortant engagement near that sjjot, which tnrned the tide of 
affairs in the struggle of our fore-fathers for freedom ; and he felt 
tliat the liearts of all in his presence tVirohbed with equal i)ride. 

He then introduced Col. Thos. Hardeman, the silver-tongued 
orator of Georgia, who, as the representative of the descendants 
of the heroic Clarke, would a<ldress those who represented the 
sons of Cam]il)ell, Cleveland. Slielhy. Sevier, McDowell and 
Williams. 

Colonel Ilardernaii then stci'l"'d forward and delivered the 
following eloiinent 

O K A^ T I O TsT . 

We stand to-day ui)on soil hallowed liy Hevoliitionary 
memories, while the history of the struggles antl triumphs of our 
patriot fathers who near here struck a decisive blow for American 
Independence, stirs our blood and tires our bosoms. The same 
mountain rises before us; the same valleys gladden us wilii their 
beauty and their freshness ; the same heavens circle ns with their 
curtains of blue; the same sun lights tlie em])yreau : l)ut all 
else- how clianged I The forest has fallen under the stroke of tiie 
l)ioneer ; the '•'aged uumiticeuce of nature'" has succumbed to the 
power of "youthful civilization ;" the wild beasts have alumdoned 
their invaded homes for luoi-e undistuilie(l retreats ; and the 
harvest-fields, the smiling village, the school house, the college 
and the church of Zi(m evidence the progiess of civilization, the 
diffusion of knowledge and the triumph of the Cross. The brave 
men — actors in that bloody drama— they, too, have passed away. 
One after one, like forest leaves, they fell ; but the memory of 
their deeds, the results of their conflicts, the effects of their 
successful struggles, will How on like the rivers, in a ceaseless 
current, as long as gravity controls the waters and heaven-born 
insi)iration sways the soul. 

To inaugurate the ceremony of celebrating their achieve- 
ments, and paying some tribute to their memory, is the object 
of this assemblage to-day. Sacred spot ! Interesting duty ! 
Hallowed association ! Around a cradling-place of Independence, 
on an anniversary of the great apostle of Freedom — the innnortal 
Washington — iiave the devotees of Liberty assembled to suggest 
some suitable testimonial worthy of liie heroes of 1780, who, near 
tliis sjjot, gave to valor a new song, to heroism fresh lauiels, to 
pata'iotism a richer offering, to liberty an inalienable l>irtliright. 



CELEBRATIOX OP' WASIIIXOTON'S BIRTHDAY. ^''> 

It is an interesting occasion. Tlie Present has come with gi'^itefnl 
offerings to the Past, wlio like tearfnl Niobe, pleads for her 
children. Come, now, ye patriots of Watauga and Nollichucky, 
from Burke and Cleveland and Rutherford ; come, ye noble 
descendants of Siunter and Marion and Rutledge ; come, ye 
gallant Tennesseeans from W.isliington and Sullivan ; come my 
fellow-citizens from the Gate City of the South ; come from 
beside the jewel-sprayed Toccoa, or from the l)anks of Tallulah 
the terrible ; come maidens fair, beauty blooming on your cheeks 
and joy filling your hearts ; come ye matrons grave, your souls 
fired with a patriotism as pure as tlie lireath of early morn ; come 
one, come all, to these consecrated grounds, and while eye si)eaks 
to eye and heart i-esponds to heart, resolve here to erect an altar 
suitalile for the memorial offering that will l)e made on the 
centennial anniversary of King's Mountain battle. 

Standing ui)on this blood bought soil, in the presence of these 
sons of Freedom, witli Freedom's banner waving over me, 1 am 
awed l)y the "genius of the pLu-e,'' and my heart is stirred to its 
lowest depths, as I conunune with the spirits of Williams and 
McDowell, of Shelby and Cami)liell, of Sevier and Cleveland, of 
Clironicle and Winston, and their brave compatriots, enthused 
with the consciousness of their presence, and sheltered with tlie 
sliadow of their wings. History lias recorded their cliivalric 
daring ; orators have eulogized their memories ; poets have 
eml)almed their names in song ; l)ut that mountain heiglit will 
monument their deeds when elocpience is mute in death, and 
the harp hangs tuneless and unstrung on the willows of time. 
Patriots of Seventeen Hundred and Eighty, down the corridors 
of a century comes the story of your heroism— your conflicts and 
your victory — and for centiu-ies more the muse of history will 
fling across the Inirning strings of her harp the stirring drama of 
your deeds, which will sound on and on in imbrokeu liarmony as 
long as freedom has an altar or patriotism a votary. 

It is not tlint you were shaken by the storms of revolution ; 
it is not that you bared your bosoms to the ravages of Avar and 
death; it is not that you snatched liberty as a brand from the 
furnace of tyranny, that have given your deeds to history and 
your name to fame. It was your devotion to principle that gold 
could not corrupt, nor power weaken ; it was your unfaltering 
fidelity to the cause of freedom and representative government. 
It was your resolution, amid disheartening disasters, to maintain 
tlie institutions you had founded, of civil and religious liberty, 
and transmit them as legacies to posterity that has immortalized 

3 



34 



CELKBRATTOX OK AVASllIN(ilON S P.IRTIIDAV 



V(»ur deeds and enoiaveii your names 111)011 tlie talilel of a ^Cation's 
lieai't. Apiireciatiug your liardsliips. uratefid for your saeritices. 
eiijoyinti- the lil)eities you lie(iueatlied us. we luive assembled 011 
lliiscoiiseciated spot, so intimately associated witii your memories, 
to e\ideiice our veneration for your deeds and our devotion to 
those civil and reli<>ious jtrivilef^es your lieroism secured tor us. 
Anil in the i»ert'orinance of this duty, tliere sliould he hut one 
sentiment in this assembly — a sentiment of fraternal iniidn ; but 
one feeling — that of Americanism : for there is not an AuK'rican 
heart in this presence, that is true to its patriotic instincts, that 
does not throb with delight in contemplating the character of 
tiiose who achieved our iiidei>endence and laid tlie foundations of 
a Government which should command ••tiic overllowings"" of 
patriotic gratitude and the fealty of )»atriotic <levotion. 

Great results How from great achievemeids ; l)ut no event in 
tiie world's history, since the day of llie Heformation, lias had a 
moi'e direct and controlling iiiHuencc in the ad\anc(inenl of 
civilization, in the development of scieiic<'. in tlie enlargement of 
commerce, and in the encouragement of a passion for civil li])erty 
and religious tolerance, than the successlul termination of the 
Aiueiican Revolution and the formation of a Government that 
relieved its citizens from the opi»ression of tiudiies and from the 
tyranny of religious desi)otisin — a government liased ui)on the 
consent of the governed, and founded upon the principles of an 
elevated civilization and a pure Christianity. 

In accomiilishing these results, in securing these inestimable 
rights, history has accorded a pioniincnt part to the heroes of 
King's Mountain. They were not numhercd b\ legions, as were 
the armies of Naintleon and Wellington : nor was this a held of 
Austerlitz or Waterloo, l)nt an humble spot in the wild wood of 
America, where a few hundred iindisciitlined troojis struck for 
iionie and country ; and never did the Old Guard of Napoleon or 
the resi-rves of Wellington strike with more heroism, with more 
daring, and with more successful results. 

At that time the country''s history was gloomy and tli.scour- 
aging. Her armies had been vanquished ; her States overrun ; 
her resources e.xhausted, and the band of patriots that here and 
then- sujtixirted her sinking fortunes were almost i»ow<'rless, for 
want of resources and munitions of war. to caiiy on their 
struggle tnr indeiiendeiice. But inured to dangers and baptized 
witii the spirit of Liberty, they clung to that country's destiny 
with a tenacity that reverses could not shake, that promises 
could not weaken, or dangers pervert. The dust of a humlred 



CELEBRATIOX OF AV ASH IiSrOTON 'S BIRTHDAY. 00 

years has not obscured their bright reeord ; the cliilling frosts of 
a century have not blighted tlie green glory of their deeds ; nor 
has the tide of forgetfulness oliliterated their footi)rints from the 
■■sands of time."' The sun of their existence has set; but his 
power is still felt in the warmth of example, calling from the 
wintry bed of self-satisfied indifference the vegetation of a pure 
devotion. The fountain from which flowed the waters of their 
being is dried up, but the course of the stream it sui)i)lie(l is still 
fringed with the fl(nvers of an exemplary patriotism, and fragrant 
with the i)erfume of an luipurchasable loyalty. The light of their 
lives has gone down in darkness and in blood ; lint its ''relict 
radiance" is as soft and as cheering as tlie last glance of the day 
king as he retires to I'est in his bed of stars. 

Their entire history is (me of romantic interest. For five 
.\eais the States had V»een struggling for independence ; for fi\'e 
years their altars had been desecrated and their temples destroyed ; 
for five years tlie heavens of their nationality had been darkened 
by tempest and cloud, and at no i)revious time in their liistoiy 
had Hoi)e sung a more cheerless song, or Anticipation i)ainted a 
gloomier jiicture. Cami>l>ell had invested and captured Savannah ; 
Augusta and Sunlnu-y had falloi into the han<ls of the enemy ; 
Portsmouth and Gosport, with all their vessels, had been captured ; 
Charleston, after an unsuccessful defence, had been surrendered 
to Sir Henry Clinton ; Gates had been defeated at Camden, where 
fell the brave German, Baron DeKalb, in making his last charge 
tV)r the cause he had espoused; Sumter had been surprised and 
his forces scattered and captured by Tarleton at Fishing Creek ; 
British gold and promise of British protection had tilled the 
country with tories and deserters ; Ferguson was nuistering into 
service the loyalists of North Carolina ; Cornwallis had advanced 
to Charlotte on his mai'eli of subjugation. Clarke, of Georgia, 
having failed to recapture Augusta, was compelled to beat a 
hasty retreat. Ferguson sought to intercei)t him. The moini- 
taineers of ^"irginia and North Carolina thwarted his designs, 
and he sought a junction with Cornwallis. Camping at Gilbert 
Town, he issued his proclamation to the people of Watauga and 
Nollichueky, threatening them with the halter if they did not 
espouse the royal cause. Vain were his boastings ; harmless his 
threats. Liberty had peoi)led those mountains with men who 
defied power and ridiculed menace. Patriot refugees from 
Georgia and the Carolinas were there. The descendants of men 
were there, who, like ^Eneas and his father Anchises, with their 
families, had fled from the dangers of their country that they 



36 



CKLKBItATlOX OF WASH I N<; TON S I!l It'l'II DA Y. 



iiiifflit woislii]) their God in ;i li;iitpi«M' land. And as on their 
voyage the star of A^niis. the mother of uEneas, stood over them, 
sliining by day and by iiiylil. till they came to the shores of the 
Land of the West, so did the star of Heligious Liberty shine over 
the lieads of the Scotch-rrish and Huguenot emigrants until they 
landed in this western world, where Fate had aitpointed them to 
dwell, and where their descendants had resolved to perpetuate 
that lilierty, or die in its defence. These were the men that 
laughed at a tyrant's threat and scorned a tyrant's rope. Shelby 
and Sevier were stirred with patriotic indignation. 

"And these mountain chiefs their bugles blew, 

And field and forest dingle, cliff and dell, 
And solitary heath the signal knew, 

And fast the faitliful clan around them drew." 

No thought of danger — no fe.ir of the hangman's tree — assuaged 

the st(Uin that stirred their souls. In their rage they formed the 

licrv cross, and bearing it aloft, it was seen in the valleys of 

Watauga and in theforest of Nollichuck\ . .\mougtlie mountains 

of Ibirkc and Rutherford, McDowell 

"Sprang forth and seized the fatal sign ;" 

Camitbell and his N'irginiaiis saw the cross of lire. 

"And pressing forward like the wind. 
Left home and altars far behind," 

and w he revel- the fiery symbol flew 

"The fisherman forsook the strand, 
The svvarthv smith took dirk and l)rand ; 
With changeti cheer tlie mower blithe, 
Left in the half-cut swath liis scythe.' 
The herds without a keeper straj'ed. 
The plough was in mid-furrow staid ; 
Prompt at the signal of alarms. 
Each son of Freedom rushed to arms." 

.\nd as they came, the signal cry was heard 

"The muster-place is Lanric Mead : 
Speed forth the signal, comrades, speed !" 

Syciimorc Sho;d was the nuister place, and tiic I'.^th of 
Sei)tend)er the time for the gathering. And at the ai)i)ointed day 
the clansmen were there, ready for the battle charge. Selecting 
from those that had mustered the best material, they began their 
search for him who had threatened them with a traitor's doom. 
After a few days they found him at King's Mountain. It is not 
necessary to my ]mri)0se to recite the (U'tails of that engagement. 
Sutlice it to say their victory was complete. Ferguson and three 
iiundred of his men were slain and Wiumded. The remaining 
eight hundred, with all their arms ami munitions of war, fell into 



CELKBKATION OF WASlUKGTOIsr'S BIRTHDAY. Ol 

the IjHiids of tlie victors. Here fell Chronicle and the l)rave 
Williams, and twenty-six of their patriot followers. Peace to 
their noble ashes ! Gathered to their fathers, they live in the 
liistory of the country they died to save. It was a day of triumph 
to the struggling States, and one of terror to the loyalists. 
Cornwallis here lost one-fourth of his army, and with communica- 
tions threatened by Marion and .Sumter and Pickens, he fell back to 
Camden and aV)andoned his projected conquest of Nortli Carolina. 
It checked tlie invasion of Yirginia by Gen. Leslie, who depended 
ui)on Cornwallis' co-operation, and tlius two States were rescued 
from British subjugation. The day of disastei- had now closed. 
Cornwallis, dei)leted in foi-ces, was unable afterward to strike a 
decisive blow. Defeated at Cowpens, profiting nothing Ijy his 
victory at Guilford Court House, he retreated to Wilmington ; 
thence to Virginia, where at Yorktown lie surrendered to our 
own Washington.* 

The storm of revolution tliat had swept in such fury over the 
Young Republic had now si)ent its force. Fainter and fainter 
grew its mutterings ; more distant and less frequent were the 
flashes of its wrath ; for the sunshine of peace was dispelling the 
exhausted clouds, and the bow of promise was arching, with its 
splendor, the gloomy grandeur of the retiring storm. 

Happy realization of patriotic hope and prophetic promise ! 
Revolution had brought disaster and bankruptcy and deatli, yet 
it had iH'ought lil)erty and independence. As the star that rose 
over Judea's plain guided the wi.se men of the East initil it stood 
over lowly Bethleliem, where lay the promised Savioiu-, 'i)orn to 
set his people free," so the star of Revolution that rose over 
Lexington went before our patriot fathers at Bunker Hill and 
Trenton, at Camden and Saratoga, at Monmouth and King's 
Mountain, until it stood still over Yorktown, wliere lay the infant 
Godde.ss of Liberty, cradled in revolution and baptized in blood, 
the herald of ''])eace on earth and good will toward men." 

Peace was now achieved, and a feeling of joy and enthusiasm 
pervaded the country. Seven years from the laying of its 
foundations, w'as .Solomon in ''building a house unto the Lord," 
which gave to the Hebrew worship a magnificence that bound 
Israel more closely to her national rites ; and for seven years our 
fatliers were building the temple of freedom, the splendor of 
whose service has challenged the admiration of the world. 

A century has finished its cycle since its completion, and 

*For these faots I am indebted to Frost's and Derry's History of the United States, 
and Rev. Robert Lathan's sketch of the battle of King's Mountain. 



38 



('KT.EBR,\TION OF WASHIXGTOX'S BIRTHDAY. 



tliiiiii;ii tfiniK'sts liavc swept over it iiiid the cartlKiuake o\' 
revolution has shaken its foiuulation, tlie ark of tiic covenant is 
still 'in the oraele of the house," and the cliernhim of i)ea('e 
covers it with her outstretched win.ys. 

In that temple, Lil:)ert3' erected her altars and piomulj^aled a 
new ritual of political ethics for the novcrnnient of mankind. 
The hrst hiyii ))riest that otliciated around those altars was 
Washington, who. unitinu' the heroism of the soldier to the 
wisdom of the statesman, rolled the tide of invasion l»ackward 
to its trans-atlantic source and gave an offering of freedom to 
those who had shared a soldier's danger, and the blessing of 
independence to a nation that had been saved by his soldier 
daring. Ui)on these altars shone the liglit of a new civilization — 
a civilization which was the fostering mother of new i)rinciples 
of government, and which marked an important period in the 
annals of tlie human race ; a ])eriod characterized bj' the establish- 
ment of the principles of i)opular government on the basis of 
rei)resentation ; a jteriod of a written constitution with its grants 
and limitations ; a i)eriod of religious tolerance, educational 
advantages and civil liberty. 

Hail, eventful era. hail ! Birthday of Inde])endence : dawning 
morning of Lilierty ! JJ'ever did storm-tossed mariner, rocked by 
the billow and lashed l)y the tempest through a stormy night, 
his vessel dismantled, her rudder gone, hail with more delight 
the morning when the king of day would silence the tempest and 
calm the waves, than did our war-AVorn fathers hail that morning 
Avhen the day-star of liberty arose, dispelling the war-cloud's 
gloom, and suffusing its radiance over homes, peo])le and country. 
Joy filled every heart ; enthusiasm swelled every bosom ; while 
from hill-top and valley, from woodland and town, lolled tlie 
songs of victory in strains as exultant as those 

"Tliat floated over the waves 
From Miriam's timbrel and from Moses' tongue." 

Across the rolling deep shone the light of that morning star. 
All Europe was enthused with the glory of its rising and the 
effulgence of its beams. France caught the spirit of liberty, and 
her Marseilles of freedom filled hovel and palace hall, temple and 
camp, until the throne of tlie Bourbons crumbled, and royalty, 
crownless and sjilendorless. wept over its ruins. But the Repub- 
licanism of France was the despotism of liberty ; and because of 
a want of moi-al i»rei)aration for the liberty for which she 
struggled, France was soon remitted to revolution and to blood. 
Venice, whose liberties had expired under the conquering march 



CELEBRATION OF WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 



39 



of Napoleon, lieanl tln^ siuiial notes of freedom and struck for 
independence. The spirit that resisted the aggression of tlie 
Ottoman, revived in tlie bosoms of her sons, and the patriotic 
fires tliat once Inirned upon Venetian altars were rekindled in the 
land of Dandolo and Carmagnola. But her tri-colored flag, which . 
was unfurled in the place of St. Mark, amid the exultant shout 
of "Honor to America — long live our sister Kepuhlic," was soon 
lowered, and with her moral energies decayed, her nationality 
was lost in the revolutions that convulsed Europe. On this 
continent the republic of Chili, Buenos Ayres, Coloml)ia and 
Mexico, rose, flourished and fell. Ignorant of the blessings of 
freedom, not sufficiently enlightened to appreciate good govern- 
ment, ignoring the jtrinciples of morality and religion, national 
sin brought about uatio)ial dissolution, and of these republics, all 
that can be said of them is, they were, but are not. 

Different, indeed, was the Republicanism of America. 
Based upon respected rights, moral principles, general intelligence 
and religious obligations, it was, and is a government of law. 
Liberty here is not anarchy and license, but freedom under the 
restraints of law ; freedom of action under the limitations of 
law ; freedom of person and property under the protection of 
law ; a freedom based upon personal obligations and personal 
independence. And this i)ersonal independence, drawn from 
the very nature of our institutions and our system of tenure of 
property, is the foundation-stone of our political organization, 
and the surest guarantee for its perpetuity. There are two 
principles in our republicanism, says the gifted Webster, strictly 
and purely American : "Popular government restrained by a 
written constitution, and universal education." These ai-e the 
great elements of our strength,^ and the agencies which have 
placed us in the front rank of enlightened nations. The very 
desire to participate in the Government and its management 
(coupled with tl\e knowledge that the avenues to its positions are 
open to all) stimulates a spirit of enquiry— a desire for the 
knowledge necessary to self-government. There are no hereditary 
honors, no entailed distinctions here, to stifle ambition and dwarf 
genius. The "Mill Boy of the Slashes," and the farmer's son, 
from the snow rifts of New Hampshire, lived to electrify Senates 
by their eloquence, and filled a nation with their praise. The 
young tailor of Tennessee, fired by the spirit of our institutions, 
seized the highest honors of the nation and presided over the 
destinies of her people. This spirit of independence elevates and 
ennobles man, and gives tone to society and government ; for it 



40 



(■ki.i:i!i;a rioN oi \v.\siiin(; lo.x s luirniDAY. 



raises society, as has been tiuly said, ■■fiinii Ix'iicatli <4<»veiiiiiieiits 
to a iiaitici])atioii in tlieui. '' 

W'iio can estimate tlie intlucnce of our social and iiolitical 
system upon the spread of civilization, tiie success of aj.iricultnre. 
the enhirgement of commerce, tlie develojuiient of science, the 
progress of liberty, the elevation of society and well-being of 
mankind? What conntry has i-iven proof to the world of a 
higher civilization under her system ot udverunieiit ? What 
name has been given to mankind that is so suggestive of nu)ral 
gi-andeur, of nobility of chai'acter, of unblemished re|)utation 
and spotless patriotism as tliat of Washington V What heavens 
shine with more lustre than that whicli glows and gleams with 
such brilliant stars as Jefferson and .\danis and Hancock ami 
Hamilton, and nnmberless others, of whom it might be said — 

"Men doubt because so thick they lie, 
If these be stars that paint the galaxy." 

It was American genius that, like the son of .lapetus. scaled 
the heavens and robbed them of tlicir lightning; and it was our 
own Morse that subordinated it to the necessities of commerce 
ard the demands of enlightened progress. It was a New England 
pedagogue, who had migi'ated to Georgia, that gave the world the 
cotton gin, which has so materially aided in the develoi)ment of 
commerce and the growth of civilization. Ft was Fulton who 
called into existence a new science — the practical establishment 
of steam navigation — which revolutionized trade and changed the 
whole face of the material industries of man. Tongue cannot 
number its triumphs, for it enters into every art, into every 
science, into every industry of civilized man— carrying with it its 
blessings and transmitting to posterity a name that will live as 
long as an engine runs a rail, or a vessel i)loughs the sea. It 
matters not whether in the domain of science, in the realms of 
art, in the kingdom of i)hilosoi)hy, in the walks of civilization. 
in the world of letters, in the i)aths of connnerce, in the forum 
or in the sacred desk, in the duties of i>eace or in the art of war, 
in the growth of independence or in the science of government, 
America has reason to be proud of her contributions to the 
civilization of the world and to be "satisfied with the brightness 
of the constellations" that shine in the firmament of her glory. 
A hundred years ago, she was almost an unbroken wilderness. 
But such has been the expansive nature of her institutions, that 
her Thirteen States, with their three million inhabitants, have 
become thirty-eight, with a population numbering forty millions. 
"Her territorial expansion is as illimitable as the continent." 



CELEBRATION OF WASIIINOTON'S ISIUTHDAV 



41 



Her progress lias been iin eventful one. Step by step, year by 
year, lier march has been over mountain steeps to the vast 
wilderness of the west ; and to-day it may be said her sons can 
see no limit to her horizon, for as one is surveyed, another 
stretches out in endless perspective, and he sees new fields of 
conquest and of wealth, as one — 

"Who climbing some fair height at break of day 

Among the Alps or lonely Appenines, 
Sees ever at his feet new landscapes spread 

New vales, new towering heights, and the arc 
Of fresh horizons widening at every step." 

Onward and upward is her progress in all that constitutes the 
happiness of a peojde and the glory- of a great nation. Her 
civilization, protected by her government and her laws, is 
entering unexplored fields, leveling their hills, elevating their 
valleys, arching their streams, develoi)ing their mines, and 
tunneling their mountains, while her hardy sons of toil, with 
no master but the law, and no law but the written constitution, 
look out upon a country diversified in climate, fruitful in soil, 
unified in interest, in the full enjoyment of the blessings of free 
institutions and civil and religious liberty. These blessings — 
these institutions — this country — are yours ; yours to enjoy, yours 
to develo}), yours to transmit. A common danger and a common 
destiny, made us one people. A common purpose "to form a 
more perfect Union ; to provide for the common defence ; to 
promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of peace," 
made us one government — not one "in the extinguishment of 
State sovereignties," l)ut in the preservation of those sovereignties, 
all exercising "legislative, judicial and executive powers," under 
a constitution of a "limited, a constrained, a severely guarded" 
general government. 

The very conformation of the country, our dissimilar yet 
dependent industries, our inland, ocean — the common property of 
all — our inter-State commerce, our almost ideal boundaries, our 
Anglo Saxon civilization and extraction, our common inheritance 
of liberty, our blood-bought independence, all, all, conspire to 
make our people one in mind, one in union, and one in all that 
"makes a nation great or a people happy." 

But, Sirs, at the very time of our greatest prosperity, before 
the I^ation had reached her centennial anniversary, the clouds of 
discontent darkened the heaven of our hopes. The spirit of 
the storm shrieked aroi;nd and above us, until, stirred by the 
fanaticism of the North and the spirit of disunion in the South, 



42 



CELEBRATION OF WASniNGTON'S BTHTll DA Y. 



it biu'st into a war of dcsolatidn and (leatli. Of its ravages, its 
disasters, its victoi'ics, its dc^feats. I will not speak to-day. 

" 'Tis thine, Apolyon of jarriiij; wars to spealc, 

Hut to nie belorii^s 
The smoother but the not less onerous work 
Of garlanrliiiii with hmis and flowers and fruits 

The patlis of pleasurable Peace." 

The war is ended. The spirit of the storm lias uprolled his 
black banner and retired to liis bed of clouds. As the waves are 
troubled for hours after the storm has passed, so ai'e the waters of 
prejudice yet moved ; but they will soon be calmed, for the genius 
of oxir institutions lias said to them, "Peace ; be still." Carnage 
has ceased. Strife is ended and peace blesses the land that in the 
providence of God has been again joined together. And, my 
hearers, had I the attributes of divine imwer, I would gather the 
people of this country to-day around this hist(n-ic mountain as 
Israel was gathered around memorable Sinai, and fntni the cloud 
of misfortune that darkens its summit, while tlie thunders of 
civil strife were dying away in the distance, and the lightning of 
sectional animosity was flashing irregidar in the heavens, the 
voice of the trumpet should sound long and wax louder and louder, 
until startled Israel should receive the fiery law — "Whom God has 
joined together let no man put asunder." 

Mar not the services of the temple with the discordant 
orchestra of jarring worshippers ; but with cimbals give praise, ye 
sons of Asa])h, for is it not written in the book of prophecy, 
"the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, 
and in this place I will give peace." Peace now. peace forever! 

In the interest of that promised peace, I beg you bury the 
animosities of the past — the sectional prejudices of the present. 
As the Thebans, after their defeat of the Lacedaemonians, 
destroyed the brazen monument they had erected in honor of 
their triumph, "that no evidence of strife should remain between 
Greek and Greek," so would I destroy all evidences of the 
internecine struggles that deluged our fair land in blood. Xot 
that I would forget the Past or her sacred memories ! Never ! 
Never, while memory is true to her attributes ! Never, while 
this heart throbs with life ! Never, until it is si)oken over my 
remains, "dust to dust, earth to earth, ashes to ashes," will I be 
false to the memory of f)ur Confederate dead. True men will 
not censure; brave men will ai»plaud this sentiment. For one, I 
honor the people of the North for their ceaseless care of the ashes 



4 



CELEBRATION OF WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 43 

of their dead. And, my couutrymen, if I could call from tliei-r 
battle-made graves those who wore the blue and the gray, and 
could muster them in one grand army here to-day ; aye, if I 
could summon the restless living from the JiJ'orth and the South 
to witness that muster, methiuks they would see in that mighty 
throng the genius of Liberty sandaled with forgetfulness, girded 
with charity and crowned with mercy, as she pointed them with 
one hand to the bloody past over which were rolling Lethe's dark 
waters, and with the other to that country of plenty which 
stretches ont before her in grand persjiective, as did promised 
^Canaan before expectant Israel. 

Yes, my hearers, this is your comitry and my country. That 
flag that you have given to the breeze to-day is your flag and 
mine ; and though the Confederate banner 

" is tattered, 

Broken in its staff and shattered," 

yet this bosom was wrung with agony when Destiny ordered — 

"Furl tliat banner, furl it slnv/ly ; 
Furl it gently, fnrl it holy; 
For it droops above the dead." 

And with reverential regard, I exclaim with the Poet Priest — 

"Touch it not, unfurl it never, 
Let it droop there furled forever." 

Yet, Sirs, true men N'orth will appreciate the assertion that 
as fidelity to principle and to truth bound the people of the South 
to their flag and their cause, so* fidelity to obligations assumed at 
Greensboro and Appomattox, will make the Southern people true 
to their renewed allegiance to the Union and to the duties and 
responsibilities as citizens of the government in which they 
live. For the honor of that government, for its growth and 
development, for its happiness and peace, now and hereafter, let 
our prayers ascend to-day. 

Fathers in our political Israel, you have seen your country 
riven by the tempest and shaken by the earthquake. You see her 
now, basking in the sunshine of peace, calm as the evening of 
your days and lovely as the sunset of your existence. Young 
men, this is your country. It is the legacy your fathers gave you. 
Preserve it — perpetuate it — for it is a grand country — 



44 CELEBRATION OV WASIIIKGTON'S BIKTIIDAY. 

"Grand in her rivers and her rills, 
Grand in her 'woods and templed hills,' 
Grand in the wealth her soil conceals. 
Grand in her grain and cotton fields, 

Grand in her mines, in commerce grand, 

In sunlit skies, in fruitful land; 
Grand in her temples and in her schools, 
Where knowledge dwells and virtue rules. 
Grand in her strength on land, on sea. 
Grand in religious liberty ; 

Grand in her men, but grander far 

In Spartan mothers, as our women are." 

Motliers ! Dauj;] iters ! Here ;ire the st'])ulchprs of your 
fathers, and here your kindred dwell. Anionj? these sepulcherS 
and around these hearthstones, set the example of patriotic 
devotion, and from se])nlcher and altar let your prayers ascend — 

"God bless our native land. 
Firm may she ever stand, 
Through storm and night." 

To the altars of your sires and tlie temple of your fathers, I 
welcome you all to-day. Come one, come all. Come, true men 
of the North, and patriots of the Soutli, and set tlie solemn seal 
to the covenant of your patriotism and your loyalty. Methinks I 
see you coming. Methinks I hear your harper's Te Bewu songs 
mingling in sweetest harmony, as tliey are wafted ahmg the lines, 
with the anthem'd hallelujahs of the coming worshippers. 
Methinks T see on the mountain heights of New England a vast 
multitude signaling their co-operation to the moving throng. 
Methinks I see the Union's Emi)ir(' State, her hig heart swelling 
with emotions of grateful joy, with outstretched hands, invoking 
the blessing of Heaven upon this meeting around the coniuion 
altar of a common country. Methinks I see the Young West, 
proud of her prestige, and glorying in lier strength, bringing as 
her sacrificial offering, the first fruits of her iiarvest-fields amid 
tlie swellings of the reaper's S(mg. Methinks T see South Cai'olina. 
who severed the first cord that hound the States together, and 
fired the first gun of the revolution, bringing to the templi' iicr 
fathers huilt, her sacrificial offering of former piejudices and i)ast 
aniiTiosities. Methinks I see Georgia, one of the Old Thirteen, 
entering the portals, hearing in her hands golden vessels filled 
with richest incense, for the temple service. Methinks I see tlie 
Old North State, the mother of the first Declaration ot Indepen- 
dence at Mecklenburg, entering the "holy of holies."" carrying 
before her the ark of the covenant : while following in her steps 



CELEBRATION OF WASIIINOTON'S BIRTHDAY. 



45 



is her daughter, proud Tennessee, l)ringing for an oblation gems 
from the mountains of her k)yalty and pearls from the ocean of 
lier patriotism. 

Solemn assemblage ! Sacred duty ! Hallowed ceremonies ! 
Spirit of Wasliington, descend to-day and kindle the sacrificial 
fires amid tlie rejoicings of a re-united people ; and while temple 
and court are filled with a holy incense, let a prayer ascend to 
our fathers' God that the sword has forever been beaten into the 
l)lowshare, and the spear into the pruning hook ; that State shall 
not lift up the sword against State, neither shall they know war 
any more. And that the reign of peace, union and fraternity 
over these States shall be as lasting as tlie home of the stars — as 
eternal as the foundations of the ''everlasting hills." 



■ FLAG PRESENTATION. 

At tlie conclusion of the .iddress, almost every sentence of 
which was applauded, and whicli at its close elicited an outburst 
of i)atriotic feeling from all within sound of the distinguished 
speaker's voice, a salvo of artillery was fired, which was followed 
))y inspiriting music by the band, when Col. W. J. Houston, 
general passenger and ticket agent of the Atlanta and Charlotte 
Air-Line Railway, with a magnificent United States flag in his 
hands, step]je(l forward and said : 

Executive Committee of the Kiiufs Mountain Centennial 
Association: Gentlemen — It is with pleasing emotions that I 
appear before you to-day as a representative of the great Iron 
Link tracing the Piedmont belt of this beautiful Sunny South, 
and uniting it directly to the great commercial marts of the East. 

One hundred years ago, within the radius covered by the 
sound of the whistles of the engines of the Atlanta and Charlotte 
Air-Line Railway as they approach King's Mountain, a memorable 
event took place. Col. Buford, then of military fame, met the 
enemy, but with sad results, such as cast a gloom over our entire 
colony, and caused many to falter and join the ranks of the 
British, tliinking the cause of lil)erty lost. 

Nejviy one himdred years later we find another Buford 
approaching, with a firm and steady tread, the same historic 
grounds, and in his hand he bears a golden spike with which he 
is to complete this grand thoroughfare of iron. He was not 
defeated, but by indomitable will, and under many trying and 



46 



CKLKIJR.VnoX OK \VAsni\(;-r()N\S iuktiidav. 



enibarassiny obstacles, coiitiiiiicd liis sternly adviiuce until success 
crowned liis efforts. To-day you arc largely indel)ted to tliis 
.ueutleiiiau for the great prosperity that surrounds you all. 

Like nearly every enterprise of tlie kind built at that particular 
time, to succeed, help must be secured from our friends of the 
East, anil luckily for unr country, he callecl to his aid liberal 
minded capitalists, who tivcntually found it necessary to take 
charge of the road. This bnuii;lit them here, and after seeing 
the immense resources of our country, they were not slow to 
determine on a policy looking to the future development of their 
interest. Fi'om their mnnber one was selected who is young 
and vigorous, with large financial influence, and jjossessing an 
extraordinary degree of executive abilitx . also enlarged views of 
the duty of cor|)orationsto the iieoplc. In liis hands this pro])erty 
was entrusted. 

Of his ability I will not here si)eak. but refei- you to the past 
three years' management of the road for his history. Feeling 
the importance of poi)ulating this country with enterprising and 
energetic iieople. the management is now moving as fast as 
circumstances will admit, to liring about this result. Nothing 
will be left umlone by them looking to this end. 

Under broad and conlprehensive instiMictions, (and with 
feelings of personal pride) I am instructed to go forward and 
devote my time and attention to every measure inaugurated for 
the development of the country along our line. Helievinu the 
gathering of tlie peo]tle fi'om all sections of the country, on the 
occasion of the centennial celebration, Octolicr 7th. ISSd. at 
King's Mountain, one of the most important events that could 
be inaugurated to bring about this result, 1 have made it a 
special duty to make this a success ; and to this eiul, I to-day 
offer you my full co-operation, and i)resent, in- tlie name of the 
president and board of directors, this beautiful American flag, 
with their best wishes, and assurances that tlie company stands 
ready to unite with the i)eo])le in doing all that can l)e done to 
advance the iirosperity and success of this country. 

On receiving the flag from Col. Houston. Dr. B. F. Dixon. 
on behalf of the committee, said : 

President and Board, of Directors of the Atlanta and Qharlotte 
Air-Line RaiJu-ay : Gentlemen— At a meeting of the Executive 
Committee of the King's ^Mountain Centennial Association, held 
at Yorkville, S. C, on the 1st day of January last, a committee 
consisting of Capt. \V. T. K. Bell, 11. H. Garrett, W. A. Mauney, 



CELEBRATION OF AVASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 47 

Dr. A. P. Campbell and myself was appointed to receive a flag 
from your corporation to-day. Tlie committee has made it my 
duty to perform that work. 

And, gentlemen, it is with feelings of pride and pleasure 
that I appear before you now to fulfill the trust confided to my 
care. And suffer me to say that 1 heartily endorse all that Col. 
Houston has said looking to the development of our country 
along the line marked by the Atlanta and Charlotte Air-Line 
Railway. Antl I will add that we are indebted to that company, 
to a very great extent, for the prosperity whicli we now enjoy. It 
has made the wilderness and solitary place to be glad, and the 
desert to rejoice and blossom as the rose, nourishing towns 
and villages have sprung up Avhere were barren fields and trackless 
forests. High schools and colleges are multiplying along its 
track, and the busy hum of industry and enterprise is heard in 
the land. 

And the bright promise of the success of the centennial 
celebration, in October next, is largely due to the enthusiasm and 
untiring efforts of your company. And nothing could have 
added more to that promise than the presentation to-day of this 
beautiful fiag to the King's Mountain Centennial Association, to 
be unfurled from the highest pinnacle of King's Mountain, where 
the first rays of the sun, as he comes rejoicing from his chamber 
in the east, may shine upon it, and his beams gladden it in his 
daily promenade from his Oriental palace to the Hesperian 
gardens — from the gates of Morn to the gates of Eve. 

Then let us raise high this flag of our fatliers ! Let the 
breezes of our South-land kiss it ! And as its folds unfurl beneath 
the heavens, let our voices unite and swell the loud invocation, 
Flag of our fathers, wave on, wave forever ! And may our songs 
of rejoicing to-day be but the prelude of the grand anthem that 
shall be sung on the 7th of October. May that be a simidtaneous 
movement of forty millions of people along tliis continent \ may 
it begin as the gray dawn first lights up the cliffs of Maine, and 
rise and roll with the sun, until his parting smile saddens and 
fades into the gloom of night. "JSTot in Jerusalem, nor upon this 
mountain," but wherever the flag of our country is given to the 
breeze, should Americans do honor to the day upon which Camp- 
bell con([uered and Ferguson fell. May it be like the Grecian 
celebration on tlie banks of the Alpheus, where foes met as 
friends, and their bickerings were forgotten. May it be as joyous 
as the song and dance of Miriam and her maidens on the shore of 
the lied Sea, and as free as the jubilees of Israel. Thus alone 



48 



CELFJ5HATIOX OK WASIIlXCiTOX's BIRTHDAY. 



CHii we give a fitting testimony to the woiltl of our joy and 
gladness over tilt' victory of our fathers and of our hive for the 
l)rave men liy w liose saerificial blood our li))erties were secured. 

At the {M)n('lnsion of Dr. Dixon's address. Col. Coward, as 
cliairman of the King's Mountain Centennial Association, took 
the flag and addressing Maj. Gr'aham, representative of Governor 
Jarvis, and Col. Johnstone, representative of (Governor Sini])son. 
in a f eAV felicitous remarks, deliveivd it to tliem, by wiioni, in 
behalf of the Governors of the respective States, it was taken to 
the pinnacle of the mountain and floated from the pole there 
erected by the Air-Line Railway comi)any. 

Each of tliose gentlemen, on being delegated to this duty, 
resjjonded in a liappy maimer, giving full assurance of tlie hearty 
sympathy manifested in the occasion, and also in tlie centennial 
celebration, bv the Governors of the two States. 



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